This week, we’re diving into the heart of self-love by revisiting and nurturing your inner child—a powerful step in our Loving Yourself First: Becoming Your Own Best Friend series.

It totally sucks to be a grownup! Can you relate to this? I’m so drained from the never-ending cycle of adulting—constant to-do lists, bills, phone calls, and the constant worries about tomorrow.

When the weight of it all feels the heaviest, that’s my cue to step back and find a creative outlet. It’s my way of reconnecting with my true self and giving my inner child some much-needed time to play.

In the busyness of everyday life, we tend to push our inner child aside to focus on work, bills, and never-ending to-do lists—not to mention trying to meet everyone else’s expectations. But this neglected part of us is the key to living a life with more meaning, fun, and lightheartedness.

This week’s positive affirmation invites us to reconnect with our inner child. These weekly affirmations act as gentle reminders of the qualities we aspire to embrace. Our focus this week is on the empowering declaration:

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I honor and nurture the playful spirit within me.

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This affirmation reminds us that playfulness isn’t something to leave behind in childhood—it’s a powerful force that continues to live inside us and fuels creativity, joy, and a deeper connection to ourselves.

When we allow ourselves to play, we step outside the rigid expectations of adulthood. Play isn’t just about toys or games—it’s about approaching life with curiosity, fun, and a spark of adventure. It’s in the simple moments, like singing your heart out to a favorite song while cooking, talking to your pet in a silly voice, or doodling with crayons just because it makes you happy.

Let’s recognize that play is not the opposite of work – it's the energy that makes our work, and our lives, more meaningful and sustainable.

Becoming a mom has deepened my appreciation for the importance of play. I give my kids plenty of time to immerse themselves in their pretend worlds and imaginative adventures. Along the way, they’ve inspired me to reconnect with my own playful side. Kids have this incredible ability to dream big and see endless possibilities, and it’s truly contagious.

For this week’s art journal prompt, I invite you to reconnect with the bold, limitless dreamer we once were as children.

As kids, we dreamed big without hesitation, unburdened by the "practical" advice of adults telling us why something wouldn’t work. Maybe you wanted to be an astronaut, only to hear someone say, “That’s nearly impossible.” But let’s go back to the time before those doubts crept in.

Whether you dreamed of being an astronaut, a pop star, or even both at once, there was a magic in the certainty of those childhood ambitions.

Dream Big, Little One

Draw or collage a page inspired by the dreams and aspirations you had as a child. What did you want to be? How can you honor those dreams today?

Through drawing or collaging, let’s revisit those childhood dreams tucked away but never forgotten. What did you long for before the world taught you about "practicality"? Maybe you wanted to live in a treehouse, save marine animals, or make animated feature films.

This prompt is more than nostalgia. As you create, reflect on how those dreams still echo in your life today. Perhaps your wish to save marine animals mirrors your passion to work with animals or save the ocean, or wanting to be an animator shows your love of storytelling. These early aspirations can reveal parts of ourselves still waiting to be expressed.

As a child, I always dreamed of being a toy designer, designing adorable toys, products, and stationery inspired by my imaginary characters. I envisioned walking into a store like Sanrio, filled with vibrant displays, and seeing my creations proudly showcased. I imagined my characters on pencil cases, pens, notepads, sticker books, and an array of charming stationery products that bring joy to everyone who uses them.

For this prompt, I decided to borrow some of my children’s art supplies— colored pencils, crayons, construction paper— to draw and collage a picture to represent my childhood dream.

I started out with some pencil sketches. I drew myself in the middle surrounded by products that I wanted to create including dolls, water bottles, lunchboxes, pencil boxes, notebooks, crayon boxes, and a snowglobe.

I colored them in with color pencils and crayons.

I colored a larger sheet of paper with my kids’ Stockmar block crayons and added my drawings to create a collage with construction paper that represents my childhood dream. I used my embossed label maker to type out “my childhood dream” and pasted it in the middle.

I didn’t like how harsh the crayon looks in the background and how it takes away from the little drawings so I painted over the background crayon with a layer of gouache paint to mute it a bit. Also I used a little marker to define the self-portrait a bit more.

Here’s the final outcome. Overall, I had a lot of fun remembering the dreams I had when I was little and this activity entertained me for well over an hour on a weekend morning.

Life has a funny way of leading you back to your childhood dreams. This dream has always stayed with me, and even after all the adulting I’ve done since I was a child, I find myself here, still working to turn this dream into a reality.

I hope you take some time this week to try out this exercise to reconnect with your inner child and the fantastical dreams you once had and figure out how you can honor that dream you once had today.

While this art journal prompt brings your childhood dreams to life, this next written reflection prompt helps uncover the simple joys and moments that once made your heart feel light and figure out how to bring them back to adulthood.

Bringing Back What Made You Smile

What activities made me feel the happiest as a child? How can I incorporate those into my life now?"

This simple question can transform how we experience life. Maybe it was the thrill of riding your bike, building with blocks, or creating stories with stuffed animals. These weren’t just pastimes—they were pure expressions of joy, free from adult expectations.

The activities that brought me the most joy as a child were drawing, writing little stories in my notebooks, and creating imaginary worlds with my dolls and stuffed animals. I loved making up stories, doodling scenes, writing them down, and acting them out with my toys. Even now, I still draw every day, and those imaginary characters are still with me. Hamletta Studios is my creative outlet, born from the inspiration of my inner child. Working on this project continues to spark my creativity and fill my days with joy. I also hope I’m bringing joy and inspiration to strangers on the internet. :)

Once you've brainstormed the activities that brought you joy, the real magic begins—bringing those activities into your present life. You might not build blanket forts anymore, but you can create a cozy reading nook. Collecting stones could evolve into mindful nature walks. By reconnecting with these sources of happiness, you can invite moments of pure, childlike joy back into your adult life.

Reconnecting with your inner child is a powerful way to rediscover joy and reclaim the sense of wonder we all once had. By revisiting moments that shaped who you are—whether it’s a time of pure happiness, a place that felt safe, or an experience that sparked your imagination—you can honor your inner child and celebrate the beauty of those formative memories. To help you get started, I’ve created a FREE Inner Child Bingo Sheet, along with an infographic on the power of play. Download them by clicking the image below and let your creativity guide you on this joyful journey!