When you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, some of their answers can be outlandish and interesting – from a superhero to a fireman, there’s nothing off-limits when it comes to their dreams.
Children can seem fearless compared to the anxieties and worries we often have as adults trying something new.
Dr Sophie Ward, a head of the psychology department at Arden University, explains how we can ‘channel our inner child’, learn from our younger self’s confidence, and restore it to achieve our dreams.
Tap into the mystery of exploration
Dr Sophie Ward says: “When we’re younger, we possess this inner confidence that slowly leaves us as we get older. That could be life getting in the way, or our past experiences hindering us.
“But by learning to be more explorative, we can easily channel our childhood confidence. When you step out of your comfort zone, you challenge yourself to grow, adapt and learn, which gives a sense of accomplishment.
“When you begin to carefully embrace the unknown, you slowly build self-trust, reinforcing the belief that you can navigate and thrive in many different situations – boosting your confidence.”
Don’t listen to others
Exploration is an integral part of being a child and shapes us into the adults we become. However, a big part of growing up is listening to adults to learn what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and manage the risks we face.
As we age, however, we need to learn to recognise when not to listen to others – especially when it feeds into our inner critic.
“Not every opinion is a truth we must carry. You can filter out the noise that feeds your self-doubt,” explains Sophie.
“For instance, you may have been told as a child you have to get brilliant grades so you can go to university straight from school. But if you didn’t follow that path, it can feel like it’s now too late. But in reality, this is far from true.
“At Arden University, many of our students are mature students choosing to continue their learning journey later in life. Many of them also felt, at one point, like they were ‘too old’ because of previous expectations.
“But by going against the grain and silencing their inner critic, they took the plunge and began their journey towards their dream career.”
Remain present
Children tend to live in the moment and focus on the now, rather than dwelling on past mistakes or future anxieties.
“This plays a big part in silencing our inner critic,” shares Sophie. “Children are more likely to live in the process of creation, whereas adults place more importance on the end outcome being perfect as opposed to enjoying the process.”
Remaining present can help you focus less on the ‘what if’ and more on the here and now, quietening your anxiety and inner critic.
“At Arden University, we encourage our students to be present, allowing them to fully engage with their current tasks.
“This helps them become more aware of their abilities and progress, which in turn boosts self-assurance and decision-making, quietening their inner critic and proving to them that they can achieve anything they put their mind to.”
