Who was she?

What happens when you lose yourself? Your life is no longer your own, but a function of the system. You begin to find comfort in monotony and inspiration no longer exists. How many people do you know who are like this? Or could it be you? It is strange to look back at all the versions of yourself you have embodied in this lifetime. I believe the truest version of ourselves is childhood. Judgment didn’t exist and expression was pure. I believe we all must reclaim our inner child while still allowing growth of our current version. 

When was the last time you did something purely for the joy of it? Allowing yourself to truly enjoy a moment is crucial to our well-being. Society tells us to follow the rules, study hard and work harder. What happened to the things we loved most in life? Now think for a moment back to when you were twelve years old. What would you think of yourself now? What were your priorities back then, and what did you always want to do as a grown up? The other day I drove in my very own car, listened to my favorite music, and bought myself a milkshake on my way to the mall. Twelve year old me would have been absolutely ecstatic. I just did something I had always dreamed of with ease. Why is it that we often overlook the small details that bring so much joy?

We are a culture that is focused on the future. When I make enough money, then I can be happy. When I meet the right person, then I will have love in my life. How is it that we can’t find that happiness now? My solution of reclaiming your inner child has drastically changed my life, and I know it could positively impact yours.

Making time for yourself is the first, most crucial step. I believe it is crucial to make at least an hour of uninterrupted time just to do something you enjoy each week. The more time, the better. I know that we are all busy, but how many hours do you spend just scrolling on your phone or watching TV? It is said that people make time for the things that are important to them. How important is your quality of life and happiness? I believe that if you don’t make time for joy, it begins to lack in all areas of your life. Your work seems taxing, relationships are more transactional, and you don’t see the world in a positive way. It can also affect mental health and become a repetitive pattern, or lifestyle. I have noticed that the happiest people often have a hobby, passion or take time for themselves. “Mindfulness activities can be helpful for dealing with anxiety,” says Richelle Concepcion, PsyD, MPH, of Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.

Making time is important, but also accepting and acknowledging where you are at today is even better. I advise you to take account of your life. Write down all the things you do on a daily basis. If it brings you joy, mark a heart by it. Whatever else is on that list that doesn’t bring you joy, see if you can eliminate it from your life. If it is a necessity, keep it of course, but see if there are any ways to simplify, reduce or modify the task. Make a plan of action by listing your work and personal priorities and then deciding what can be delegated and what can be postponed, says Laura Boxley, PhD, of The Ohio State University. Be sure to add self-care to your schedule, she adds. “In stressful times, self-care can seem frivolous or selfish,” she says. “But committing to self-care will preserve your ability to rise to the challenge of this time.”

Take time to be present. I think that kids are brilliant because whatever they are doing, it is with full presence. As we get older, our responsibilities pile up and we become used to our environment. The best thing to do is bring that awareness back into your life. A highly effective way to bring that presence back into your life is through meditation. You can start with just ten minutes a day. “Scientists have theorized that meditation may produce these beneficial effects by enhancing emotional regulation or the ability to control our emotional state. For example, meditation is associated with a decreased physiological response during the viewing of a stressful film, decreased emotional interference during the Emotional Interference Task, and decreased self-reported difficulty in regulating the emotional state. In addition, meditation programs have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, panic, and depression in patients with anxiety disorders, with these effects lasting for up to 3 years after the initial meditation intervention.”

It is more important now more than ever to reconnect with your inner child and bring that joy back into your life. There are many ways that you can do this such as doing something fun, starting a new hobby, meditating, learning something new or exercising. It will feel good and the results will ripple into all other areas of your life. 

Works Cited:

 (2020, July 1). Self-care has never been more important. Monitor on Psychology, 51(5). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/07/self-care

Basso JC, McHale A, Ende V, Oberlin DJ, Suzuki WA. Brief, daily meditation enhances attention, memory, mood, and emotional regulation in non-experienced meditators. Behav Brain Res. 2019 Jan 1;356:208-220. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.08.023. Epub 2018 Aug 25. PMID: 30153464.