“30 Days to a More Optimistic You” Positivity Challenge – Day 27. Your Inner Child is Calling

Do you make it a point to listen to your inner child?

Some people think that once they’re of a certain age, being child-like is… well, for children.

But there is a big difference between having a child-like approach to living, and having child-like emotions.

What does the word child-like make you think of?

• Being fully present and mindful – able to live in the moment

• Joyfulness and good humor

• Always ready to play, imagine, and engage

• Learns through play

• A carefree attitude, not worrying about the future or lamenting the past

• Honesty – telling it like it is

• Eternal optimism – faith, hope and believing the best of others

• Sharing emotions but not emotionally manipulating

• Expressing wonder and delight at the world around you

• Natural curiosity – questioning things

• Keeping an open mind- accepting different opinions and points of view

• Being non-judgmental. Enjoying people for their good qualities alone

• Having a good nature

• Being flexible and going with the flow

If your inner child wants you to loosen up and lighten up, then why not honor this?

Exercise 27: Honor your inner child.

Be grateful for the younger you who once was, and who still lives inside you.

• Summon your inner child when you feel like criticizing others.

• Summon your inner child when impatience rules your actions

• Summon your inner child when you become rigid in your beliefs

• Listen to your inner child when you meet someone new who is different from you

• Listen to your inner child when he or she needs someone to listen

• Listen to your inner child when you’re spending time with your own children

• Listen to your inner child when you’re thinking about problem solving

• Listen to your inner child when there’s an opportunity to learn something

Journal It.

You were a child once. What were you like as a kid?

Write about the child you were. What were your favorite things to do? What types of thoughts did you have?

Who was your best friend? What did you like about him or her?

What were you good at, as a child? What was your personality, your beliefs?

Compare the adult you are today to the child you once were.

Is it possible for you to meet your inner child halfway? How?

To releasing your inner child and having more fun

Fran Watson