My first self-date was a small and low-key adventure many years ago: a movie in the middle of the day.
It felt amazing to finally conquer one of my worst fears and not having to be accompanied by someone.
And this is when my confidence really set in. It was the confidence knowing I am OK alone, that I can vibe with myself and that I don’t need another person around to feel comfortable.
This is when my outlook changed and I became more comfortable with myself and my mind, accepting the scrutiny and the looks of judgment and ridicule from others. The anxieties that used to plague my mind about what people will think or what I will do alone in a place with no friends no longer bothered me. In fact, this challenged me to become more outgoing and social. Some of the greatest things come from outside our comfort zones. In my case, my new found confidence and self-value completely changed my life.
My morning pages today found myself thinking about the last time that I had done things for the first time. Some I continue to do and some I had stopped doing. And that led me to the insight that self-care is too important to be done only when convenient. We have parts of ourselves that crave our kindness and attention. One of those selves is often neglected: our inner child. Today, however, I offer a simpler way to connect with your inner child’s joy, innocence, and curiosity. Remember being a child? Whatever you did, you were fully present in the moment. You were absorbed in whatever you were doing: riding your bicycle, drawing, digging holes, or playing with clay. Whatever amount of time you spent there, that activity was your world. Your inner child shows you how:
To concentrate fully on what is in front of you,
To act spontaneously—free from pressure to do, be, or act in any prescribed way,
And without fixating on a product, outcome, or result.
For me, today was “Bring Your Inner Child to Work Day.” I decided to restart doing something I used to do. I played with clay to create these flowers.
What does your inner child want to do today? Does she want to colour? Sing? Play with clay? Eat ice cream? Hula hoop?
In this ritual, I invite you to step away from the rat race and take your inner child out on a play date. Not only will this seemingly frivolous activity add some levity to your day, but you might find yourself surprised at the insights that come through. Children lack filters and getting in touch with your smaller self might help you get real about where you’re going and why. Within reason, let your inner child call the shots for a few hours. This might mean something silly like having dessert for breakfast or adding extra sugar to your morning coffee, but it can also be a good exercise for infusing a little more fun into your day. The point of this ritual is to let your inner child take the steering wheel of your life for a couple of hours. Try to be in the moment and let your regular adult concerns fade to the background.
Let me know – What does your inner child like to do? Think about what brought you joy as a child. What can you recall from when you were a toddler, preschool, preteen, or adolescent? Our inner child takes on different ages, and you’ll know at which age your inner child wishes to show up.