by Gabby Mazza, Head Writer All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it. Something I've noticed about my generation is that we would do anything to feel young again. This weekend, I went to Disney Night at The Western, a country bar in downtown Guelph. The DJ was spinning Disney Channel throwbacks all night and the bar even offered a cocktail menu inspired by iconic Disney celebrities like Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. I had such a fantastic night. It truly warmed my heart to see every university student in the bar light up as their favourite childhood songs played. I myself felt my heart glow as I danced with my best friends screaming all the words to our favourite old hits. My inner child was at peace. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I discovered this term, inner child. Your inner child is “an expression of not just your child self, but your lived experience of all life stages” (Raypole, 2020). Your inner child carries feelings and memories from the past as well as hopes and dreams for the future. An inner child can be healthy or injured; it largely depends on what one's upbringing was like. For those of us who didn’t have a healthy upbringing, our inner child might face conflict, especially when prompted by situations that bring up memories of past traumas. On the flip side, those that had a healthy upbringing likely experience a healthy inner child, exhibiting feelings of playfulness, fun, and child-like wonder. In my opinion, embracing your inner child is one of the secrets to living a happier life. I think we could brighten each and every day by adding some childlike fun. Let’s dive into some ways you can do so! The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart. Play
Share
Create
Feel
Explore/Remind
Connect
Final ThoughtsAnd now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. I believe that keeping childlike wonder alive in adulthood is so crucial, holding onto the things that remind us of being young and full of magic. Connecting with your inner child takes work, but it’s so worth it in the end. You might even think of connecting with your inner child as a form of self-care since it could help you rediscover a sense of joy and wonder. If you’re putting in the work to heal and rediscover your inner child, I want you to know I am rooting for you and I am so proud of you! Gabby is an undergraduate student at the University of Guelph, an Academic Coordinator at the Psychology Society and a Head Writer on GetPsyched. Are you interested in submitting a post to GetPsyched? Make sure you fill out our submission form and send it back to us so we can showcase your ideas! Edited by Tavia Kiwanuka-Quinlan. References
Gillespie, C. (2021, October 4). This Is Why We Associate Memories So Strongly With Specific Smells. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/why-do-we-associate-memories-so-strongly-with-specific-smells-5203963 Raypole, C. (2020, June 26). Inner Child: 6 Ways to Find Yours. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/inner-child
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