We are adults with responsibilities. We forget to take time to play. In the avoidance of listening to your inner child, you begin to experience stress, illnesses, depression, frustration, and anger. We hear from way back there the voices that tell us, “Grow up already! You are not a kid anymore. Stop acting like one. You cannot have it all.” Oh, and there are so many other sentences, commands, judgments, criticisms and passive aggressive behaviors that others instill in us. You have forgotten that you wanted to be a policeman, a fireman, a dancer or the President of the United States. You have forgotten that you wanted a big wheel, a Barbie dream house or a trampoline. You stopped wanting because you were disappointed. You stopped believing in Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, and fairy tales. And, in the process to adulthood, you stopped believing that you are magical and can do anything you want.
There is a way to connect with your inner child. There are ways to tap into that little child and ask him or her to show you those things you have forgotten. You can still live a fairy loving life. You can still have the things you wanted. Tell your ego to sit down and be quiet cause you have some fun work to perform.
Here are 7 ways to reconnect with your little person:
1. Time travel.
Sit or lay comfortably. Allow your mind to go to a time that was carefree. Let’s return to a memory in your childhood. Write these details down without stopping the flow of the traveling experience. How old are you? Where are you? What are you doing? Hold on to those feelings. Allow yourself to visit there a few times a week. Each time you return to that specific scene or event give yourself permission to be 3 or 6 or 11. The beauty of time travel is that it’s free and you can do it from anywhere. Ask your higher guidance to show you what was so magical about that time that you remember so vividly.
2. Make a date with yourself.
There is still a little girl or boy taking up residency inside of you. Notice how you get when you see a child play with a Barbie or a truck, and remember those feelings. The best way to reconnect with your soul is by taking time to play. Make a date with your inner child to do those things that brought you laughter. You can go to a playground and swing. You can go bowling, or play basketball. You may break open the old board games and start there. Go bicycling or skating. Play in nature, barefooted and run through creeks. You don’t have to do these things with anyone. Have a tea party for yourself or invite others who want to reconnect with youth. But, these are mini dates that require only you and your inner child.
3. Get goofy.
When did you stop being fun? When was the last time you gave yourself permission to be carefree? When did you start dressing up like an adult and stopped being a child? There are no rules to how you are suppose to act. Your inner child craves for laughter. He/she desperately tries to show you a good time and you begin to feel guilty. Once again, you let the voices from the past dictate your feelings. Try wearing different pairs of funky socks. Wear a tutu. Color your hair. Dress however you want. Buy some Playdo and create. Draw, paint, and allow your child to come to you with all the joys it once did. You make your own rules. No adulting allowed during this process.
4. Write a letter.
Not everyone remembers having a healthy and loving childhood. Many of us come from broken homes, addiction, abuse, and poverty. But, there is always a memory of something loving and joyful. Take a pen and paper and write a letter from your adult self to your inner child. Use the hand that you never write with (this will force you to use small words and sentences like a child). Give your inner self advice for the future. Tell that little one how things will turn out. Give him/her permission to remain a child as long as possible. Let him/her know that the fears you had then are okay but they didn’t dictate your life. Ask for forgiveness if you need to. Sometimes we don’t know how badly we treat our childhood. You get to reassure your inner child that you have done the best for him/her.
5. Nurture your inner child.
Children cry when they are sad. They have tantrums when they aren’t being heard. They get angry when they don’t get their way. Nurture your inner child by allowing your adult to release feelings. Children don’t hold back. If you feel like crying, do so. If you feel like laughing, do it. You owe no one any excuse for being you. Write those feelings down. Take time to be alone and read a child story. Return to the places that made you feel whole again.
6. Be a parent to your inner child.
If your parent never celebrated your birthday when you were young, throw yourself a party. If they never took you to the beach, make it a road trip now. If you never got that specific doll, go find it on Ebay. If you were never rewarded for good grades, being awesome in school, then now take yourself to dinner. Give yourself the moments that you didn’t get in childhood. You get to celebrate and reward the inner child. You can let that little girl/boy know that you are proud of him/her.
7. Have fun.
This is the best thing you can give your inner child. Start seeing the world through your inner child’s perception. Marvel at the magic in the world. Invite others to join you. Surround yourself by beautiful and simple things. Declutter your space. Make your home a sanctuary. Start figuring out what you want to do now. If you have been stuck in a job you hate, it’s time to make a plan. If you are in a relationship that isn’t allowing you to grow, it has to come to a change. If you have children and you’ve been too much of a disciplinary adult, begin to play with them. You want to learn and follow children. They will always teach you how to see the world from a different reality. Children require very little but time and imagination.
Your inner child has been patiently waiting for you to adjust your crown, your robe, your tutu, and your dancing shoes. You have the ability to retell your stories by returning to Source. You get to show your inner child that you will honor the dreams and aspiration. It’s time to put him or her in charge of your future. The more you play, the lighter you will feel and the more love you attract. You are divine beings nurtured by essence of joy. Start feeling it!
About the Author: Millie Parmer is a mother of seven, living in the mountains of Western North Carolina. She loves to write from the heart while sharing stories about humanity. She has a Bachelors Degree in psychology. Millie loves nature, writing, belly laughs, spirituality, psychology and anything that involves positive vibes. She is a fairyologist and loves to share magical musings doing workshops on how to play with your inner child and release old traumas. You can read more on her blog momentswithmillie.me.
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