Awakening Your Inner Child for Mental Health

That moment when life felt simple, silly, and wonderfully free? If you haven’t felt that in a while, it’s time to reconnect with your inner child. Not only is it healing, but it’s also an absolute riot of fun. Let’s explore how embracing playfulness and nostalgia can transform our mental health, spark joy, and remind us that life isn’t just about to-do lists and responsibilities.

Escaping the Everyday: Finding Freedom in Nature

One of the best ways I reconnect with my inner child is by escaping somewhere remote, surrounded by nature, preferably where there’s no phone signal. There’s something about standing in the middle of a waterfall, completely unreachable, that transports me back to the pre-mobile era—when we weren’t instantly contactable. Remember those days when we’d check the house phone answering machine instead of being glued to our devices 24/7? Bliss.

Now, it feels like we only get a short few years before our kids are fully immersed in digital life. That’s why I crave exploration and wild landscapes, where my inner child sparkles with delight—completely free to roam, touch, and experience the world as it was meant to be.

Why Reconnecting with Childhood Joy Heals Us

When I moved to Wales almost six years ago, I noticed something powerful—being outside changed everything. My mood, my energy, my stress levels—nature had a way of instantly shifting them. It was like a lightbulb moment: the activities and environments that brought me joy as a child still had the same effect now.

And the best part? I get to decide how often I get to relish in them. As kids, joy came naturally, but as adults, we have to consciously choose it. There’s something truly magical about watching another adult’s inner child be sparked—it’s contagious!

If My Inner Child Planned a Day…

Honestly? She’d wake up early. The kind of kid who was up at the crack of dawn ready for adventure (sorry, not sorry). A hearty hot breakfast would be essential because a wild day ahead needs fuel. Then, a spontaneous adventure to the mountains—no strict itinerary, just a day full of hiking, climbing, and laughing.

Late afternoon, we’d find a cozy spot with friends, swapping stories, belly laughing, and probably creating silly dances or doing something utterly ridiculous to make people laugh. Pure, unfiltered fun—no worries, no pressures, just presence.

Breaking Through ‘Adulting’ Pressure

Here’s a radical idea: What if we planned our fun before our responsibilities?

I used to let my to-do list dictate my time, but recently, I’ve flipped the script. Now, I schedule in self-care, family time, and movement first, before slotting in work and obligations. This small shift has transformed my sense of balance.

It’s like telling the universe, I value my joy just as much as my responsibilities. Try it—your inner child will thank you.

Letting Go of Judgment & Living Freely

A huge part of reconnecting with my inner child was learning to let go of judgment.

Once I realized that judgment (whether from myself or others) only matches where I am at, something clicked. The judgment I placed on others dissolved, and suddenly, I could enjoy my life with more freedom.

People will always judge—it’s human nature—but their judgment reflects more about them than it does about you. So I live by the mantra: ‘Let them.’

Let them judge. Let them project. Let them stay stuck in their own limiting beliefs. Meanwhile, I’ll be over here dancing like nobody’s watching.

The Joy of Talking to Plants (Yes, Really!)

Let me tell you something: Plants are fascinating.

As a kid, I was always told “don’t touch that”—but I was (and still am) a sensory seeker. Now? I talk to birds, touch leaves, and explore textures with curiosity.

My absolute favorite plant? Aloe Vera.

Its outer stems are soft to the touch, and if you squeeze its chunky part, it gives a bit—almost like it’s alive. And if you peel back a layer, you find a gorgeous, gooey, slightly sticky aloe serum that you can apply straight to your skin. My inner child is obsessed.

Why does this matter? Because bringing curiosity, play, and a bit of ridiculousness into our adult lives makes everything feel lighter.

The Takeaway: Make Space for Play

If life feels heavy, stressful, or just a bit meh, your inner child is probably begging for some attention. The good news? You don’t need permission to bring more play, adventure, and curiosity into your life.

• Schedule time for fun before responsibilities.

• Step into nature and disconnect from the digital world.

• Try something that made you happy as a kid (finger painting? Dancing? Rolling down a hill?).

• Release judgment—let them judge, while you thrive.

Your inner child is still in there—are you ready to let them out to play?