Have you forgotten how to play? Has your life become a long series of “have-to’s” and “shoulds” that take precedence over all your “want-to’s” and “could’s”? When was the last time you actually felt pure, unadulterated (no pun intended) joy and wonder?

Perhaps you’ve heard of the term “inner child.” This commonly refers to the part of you that, underneath your adult-ness, still retains those qualities from childhood of amusement, enthusiasm, neutrality, and being fully in the present moment. It’s the part of you that loves to play and that chooses things from a place of inspiration and wonder. The part of you that adores all things fun and all things funny. The part of you that wants to learn, grow, explore, and experience from a place of awe-struck curiosity, clear-eyed presence, abundant creative power, and exuberant delight.

As we all know, it can be easy for our inner child to get ignored, unacknowledged, or downright squashed by the all-too-often hectic pace of our adult lives, our responsibilities, our to-do list, our bills, or our work schedule. …Any of the often overly serious or sub-scintillating stuff that can come with being an adult. And while there is of course great importance in upholding responsibilities and doing what needs to be done in a grounded, conscientious, integrity-laden way, there is certainly a balance to be struck with regards to nurturing your inner child—and your joy—as well.

Interestingly, from a psychic perspective, those aforementioned qualities embodied in childhood—of amusement, enthusiasm, neutrality, and being fully in present time—are actually some of the most healing energies on the planet!

This is, of course, where the magic and the spark of life resides. It’s where miracles happen; that place of joy, inspiration, and enthusiasm, as so brightly and brilliantly exemplified in children. It’s what’s real, what’s alive, and what actually matters at the end of the day. Inspiration is a potent alchemist, with the power to instantaneously transform the heaviest burden into the freest wingedness; the deepest wound into healed wholeness and an inspired new way of moving forward in life, embued with deep understanding and wisdom. 

We can learn from children in this way. We can also keep ourselves—and our own inner child—happy and healthy by embodying those qualities and creating space and opportunities in our own lives to experience that sense of childlike amusement, presence, and joy.

What is it that brings you that childlike sense of joy and wonder? What’s that deep thing (or things) that’s your “Heck yeah!”? It doesn’t have to take a lot of time, effort or money. It might be something really simple, natural, and free, like a hike in the mountains, watching a sunset, or the smell of the rain. It might be dancing, writing, creating art, or listening to music. It’s that thing (or things) that make you come most alive and feel most inspired. What would happen if you gave yourself more of that?