Love and Nurture your inner child

Love Your Inner Child

“That’s the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up.” – Walt Disney

Many of us, including myself, consider our childhood to be the golden period of our life.

Why?

Because of the boundless possibilities to have fun. The feeling of having all the time in the world. The absence of responsibilities and expectations. A non-existent to-do lists. And, best of all, eating as many treats as we would like without worrying about what the scales would say the next day.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, there is a little child within who needs love and acceptance. If you’re a woman, no matter how self-reliant you are, you have a little girl who’s very tender and needs help. If you’re a man, no matter how macho you are, you still have a little boy inside who craves warmth and affection.

As children, when something went wrong, we tended to believe that there was something wrong with us. Children develop the idea that if they could only do it right, then parents and caregivers would love them, and they wouldn’t punish them. In time, the child believes, there is something wrong with me. I’m not good enough. As we grow older, we carry these false beliefs with us. We learn to reject ourselves.

There is a parent inside each of us, as well as a child. And most of the time, the parent scolds the child—almost nonstop! If we listen to our inner dialogue, we can hear the scolding. We can hear the parent tell the child what it is doing wrong or how it is not good enough. We need to allow our parent to become more nurturing to our child.

·         Rekindle your sense of wonder: Make a point of paying attention to the world around you. Look closely at a flower. Study the intricate patterns of a leaf or tree bark. Marvel at the immense power of a storm or the ocean. I started a nature journal so I could capture some of these experiences.

·         Reflect on what makes you happy and sad: Tuck a couple of index cards in your pocket, and jot down what makes you happy or sad. As you identify situations or scenarios or activities that lift you up, consciously make more time for them. I realized how happy I felt when someone thanked me for a handwritten note. So now I write more of them! Inversely, think of ways to minimize what makes you sad or stressed. When I started paying attention to this, I discovered a direct correlation between my stress level and the amount of sleep I got the night before. Getting more sleep has been a game changer for me.

·         Make time for play: This is one I struggle with myself, but researchers are discovering play is powerful therapy for stress. Think about what play means for you and make time for it.  I bought myself a Buddha Board for my desk so I can doodle at will.

·         Be yourself: Of course, this should always be tempered with kindness and thoughtfulness, but don't keep people guessing about your motives or your opinions. Be a “what you see is what you get” kind of person and, even more importantly, respect and cherish that in others. It takes courage to be yourself.

·         Try something new: Children aren't afraid to set out on a new venture, but as we get older, fear of failure can become almost paralyzing. Have you mean meaning to write a book? Are you itching to turn your hobby into a business? Do you want to learn a new language? Take one baby step towards your goal today. I'm taking a course on Digital Publishing, so I can write that book I've been talking about for years.

·         Explore: Get out of your rut. Read a book or watch a move in a different genre from your usual fare. Try a new food. Go somewhere within 50 miles you've been meaning to visit. Our local arboretum is on my list to visit soon.

I know these simple techniques won't fix all the stress or sadness or worry in your life, but they can help you rediscover a part of you may have been missing.

No matter how our looks change on the outside, our spirit will never age. When we believe that we’re spiritual beings, having a human experience, we can embrace our agelessness and embody a youthful demeanour. This youthful energy is available to us in abundance if we believe in its magic and splendour.

Don’t let growing up destroy your inner child!