As a caregiver, I can get overwhelmed at times and have to remember to take care of myself as well as my wife. I bet you also struggle at times as=to relax and spend some time on yourself. Let’s all pause for a moment from our “adulting” and remember what it was like to be a kid. What things made child you full of joy? What got younger you super excited to see your friends or have an afternoon to yourself? Have you spent time with your inner child in a while?
Do you remember how to play? Makebelieve? Just do nothing purposeful for a while? I am not saying you should act childish, but seek the childlike joy you had before.
“When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”
C. S. Lewis
Too often we feel we have to be serious adults all the time and focus on work and responsibilities. I want to encourage you to find ways to embrace your inner child to help them flourish again. Don’t be afraid to have fun in childlike ways. I find I am my strongest emotionally and mentally as well most productive at work when I have taken time during the week to set aside the adulting T.R. and embrace the childlike T.R. with my hobbies. For me, that means spending time reading a book, getting together with friends and family for some tabletop gaming, playing video games with my brothers-in-law, streaming old cartoons that I love, or just going for a ride on my bike.
How do you keep your inner child flourishing?