Be Creative: 7 Fun, Simple Ways to Engage Your Inner Child
Our child self knows who we truly are.
Our spirit and inner child craves to be heard, seen, valued, and spoiled rotten. Yet, our culture tends to over-value efficiency and decisiveness.
We are human beings, not machines or superhumans.
This summer, I embarked on a creative healing journey when “The Artist’s Way” book found me during a neighborhood walk. I feel so grateful that it did! Julia Cameron’s work has heavily influenced this post.
I had barely touched a musical instrument in years, and I got burned out at work. Like many, I stopped valuing intuition and playtime. I slowly lost my authentic voice in pursuit of external validation and feeling important.
I want to share what has helped me (and millions of others) awaken my creativity, reconnect with my inner child, and feel alive. These ideas are up for creative interpretation. Pick one and have fun with it!
TL: DR — 7Ways to Engage Your Inner Child:
- Create a Sense of Safety
- Rediscover Childhood Play
- Explore Alternate Lives
- Indulge in Authentic Luxury
- Enjoy Childhood Treats
- Embrace Your Color
- Do What You Enjoy
#1. We Need to Create Safety for Our Child.
Many thoughtless criticisms tend to stay with us throughout our lives and keep us from exploring what excites us. To move forward, we need to acknowledge and allow ourselves to heal from past judgments. We need to protect our young creative work from critics.
Thoughtless criticisms can easily crush our young creative projects.
Three years ago, I picked up a guitar, learned three chords, and wrote a song.
My musical background is primarily in classical piano, and I was out of my comfort zone.
I felt excited and enthusiastic about the song I created, and then someone close to me laughed at my guitar technique.
I felt crushed — who am I to start making music, I have no idea what I’m doing, and I’m not good enough.
Through slow, persistent, creative recovery, I have built a safe space for my inner child. I am embracing mistakes as part. I built up the courage to buy a guitar, then a keyboard and mic setup, and I am making music again!
#2. Rediscover Childhood Play with Some Time Travel Investigation.
What did you love doing when you were a child? What did you do that made you lose track of time for hours? Go ahead, make a list.
I loved collecting rocks and storytelling with my beanie babies. I built tree forts with my brother and furniture for my dolls. I read lots of fiction books.
Take your list and explore an activity. Buy a toy, visit a sentimental place, or write a letter to your younger self. There are no wrong answers.
#3. Explore and Experience Your Alternate Lives.
What did you want to be when you grew up? Who do you imagine you might be in an alternate reality? A ballerina? A rockstar? A painter?
Create a list with ten alternate lives. Don’t worry about feasibility. Then, pick something and spend time doing it for an hour or an afternoon.
If you wanted to be a traveling photographer, grab a camera, take photos, start a photography class, or join a local group. Save your list for future playtime ideas :)
#4. Let Yourself Indulge in Authentic Luxury.
In our efficient world, it feels wasteful to spoil ourselves. When we do splurge on ourselves, it’s easy to choose someone else’s idea of luxury, i.e., a fancy hotel, craft cocktails, designer clothes, or a private jet.
To find your authentic luxury, you need to listen to yourself. What have you been holding yourself back from because it seems gaudy or indulgent?
Authentic luxury might look like a fresh bouquet, uninterrupted time to read a good book, a new set of Egyptian cotton sheets. Notice what feels luxurious to you, and let yourself indulge. You deserve it.
#5. Splurge on Your Favorite Childhood Treats.
What were your favorite snacks or desserts as a child? Did you love banana sundaes with extra cherries? Animal crackers with peanut butter on top?
Whatever it is, find it. Then let yourself thoroughly enjoy some this week :)
#6. Embrace and Express Your Favorite Color.
What is your favorite color? What objects and adjectives does the color bring to mind? Why did you pick this color, and what does it mean about you?
Do you love silver because you see yourself as sleek, edgy, timeless, and soft? Do you love red because you feel passionate, intense, loving, and earthy?
Whatever it is, please write it down with the descriptors. Then, find ways to have more of that color in your life, i.e., wear that color, paint a whole room, decorate, or get a computer case. It’s your life. Make it your own.
#7. Making Doing What You Enjoy a Priority.
Make a list of 20 activities you enjoy doing. Do you love singing, writing, reading, doing acro yoga, or dancing? Whatever it is, please put it on the list.
Then, use the list of ways to spoil yourself. Yes, you deserve to do the things you enjoy. It helps to be intentional and to remove distractions during the activity.
Keep this list with you as a reference and reminder. It’s easier said than done. I still have reminders in my calendar: “Do what you enjoy today.”
Now, Let Yourself Play.
Engaging with your inner child is critical for creativity, and the journey nurtures our souls in ways that make us feel whole.
I struggled a lot with feeling guilty for not being more productive. I felt like I was lazy or stupid. Could baking chocolate chip cookies make me more creative? Yes — when it helps you to connect more deeply with your inner child.
Ironically, playfulness is the “efficient” method. When we treat ourselves well, our work becomes better, fuller. Our lives become brighter and more playful. We stop getting burned out and feeling stuck. We start finding and accepting ourselves, and we start feeling safe to expand.
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