connecting with the joy of your childlike self.

by Val White


The holiday season is often painted as a time of joy, peace, and connection—a season to slow down, cherish moments with loved ones, and reflect on what truly matters. But for many, it’s anything but serene. The pressures of gift-giving, social obligations, financial strain, and navigating complex relationships can lead to overwhelm, stress, and even anxiety. For some, it’s a stark reminder of loneliness or loss, amplifying feelings of isolation. As the world buzzes with festivities, it’s vital to create space for grounding, self-compassion, and authentic connection to truly honor the spirit of the season.

While we all come from different locations, family structures, and cultures, I believe one thing to be true of each of us; at one time in our lives we had a sense of childlike wonder, and at some point in our lives that wonder began to wain. I believe that by connecting to that sense of childlike wonder within, we can begin to let go a little more, embrace joy a little more, look for fun a little more, make time for play a little more, and ultimately find inner peace with greater ease.

I’ve created some bullet points of thoughts for you to ponder and journal on throughout the next week. Please take some time to sit with these thoughts, write them down, and allow the powerful exploration of your inner world to reveal, remind, and renew within you those parts of you that you may have thought to be lost forever. Allow the magic of this season to stir within you and awaken a sense of joy, fun, play, and peace that you can carry with you throughout the rest of this season.

journal prompts

  • recognize that something happened somewhere in your past that disconnected you from your sense of joy/play/fun/peace

  • ask yourself what it was that changed your perception of joy/play/fun/peace

  • set yourself an intention to be open to witnessing what that experience was for you

  • even if you don’t know, yet, what that experience was, commit now to CHOOSE AGAIN..to choose love, and joy, and peace, and play, and fun!

  • make a list of all of the attributes that you possessed as a child (as many as you can! such as “playful”, “creative”, “magical”, “free”, “confident”)

  • make a list of all of the things you used to do for fun when you were a child (as many as possible)

  • circle five of the things that you used to do for fun as a child and commit to yourself to implement those five things into your schedule this week!