Reclaiming Joy
As an adult, there’s a moment you realise the only person judging you as harshly as you judge yourself… is you. It’s a moment of sobering realisation that you’ve traded spontaneity for schedules, wonder for worry, and somewhere along the way, lost touch with the carefree optimistic kid you used to be.
If you’re anything like me, your inner child has probably been buried under a mountain of responsibilities, career aspirations, and relentless expectations. Somewhere beneath the polished resumes, professional profiles and the never-ending to-do list is the version of you who didn’t care about being productive or polished. They just wanted to explore and play.
When Did It Get So Serious?
When you’re young, you live in the moment. The world is infinite, and joy is easy. A puddle becomes an ocean. A cardboard box is a castle. There’s no need to be “good enough” because just being is more than enough.
Then, somewhere along the way, the world throws messages and challenges that force you to “grow up”. Be responsible. Work harder. Achieve more. We internalise that pressure, and the child like mindset starts fading into the background, replaced by a version of ourselves who carries the weight of everyone else’s expectations.
The thing is, the world will always tell you to do more, be more, achieve more. But how do we embody the belief that it’s enough to just… be?
Letting Go of the Pressure
Here’s the truth: the pressure we put on ourselves? Most of it is self-imposed. That relentless drive for perfection, that fear of falling behind—it’s not innate. It’s learned. And what’s learned can be unlearned.
The fear I felt, when I decided to leave my profession and a regular pay check. The pressure I put on myself to achieve external validations and recognition. These were all self imposed fears and expectations, that I was taught to value by my environment. They didn’t come from my internal desires or value systems.
Having my own child has allowed me connect with my inner child, and provided a reminder that life doesn’t have to be so serious all the time. It’s an invitation to let go of the pressure to be perfect and give yourself permission to play again. To do things not because they’re productive or impressive, but because they make you happy.
Reconnecting With Your Inner Child
Do Something Just for Fun
Remember what it felt like to lose yourself in an activity with no goal other than enjoyment? Paint something, dance in your living room, eat lunch in the park. It doesn’t have to be good. It just has to make you feel alive.Be Present
Kids live fully in the moment. They don’t ruminate about the past or stress about the future. Next time you’re overwhelmed, take a breath and focus on where you are right now. The smell of the air, the warmth of the sun, the sound of laughter.Laugh at Yourself
Kids aren’t afraid to be silly or make mistakes. Give yourself permission to laugh—especially at your own missteps. Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.Say Yes to Joy
We often prioritise what’s urgent over what’s joyful. Flip the script. Say yes to the things that make your heart sing, even if they’re small or “unimportant.”
—
Reconnecting with your inner child is an important part of knowing who you are and what you want. It’s about remembering that joy is as essential as responsibility, and rest is just as valuable as hustle.
In the end, the version of you who deserves kindness, curiosity, and care? That’s not just your inner child. That’s you.
