The Inner Child Challenge
On my desk, I have a photo of myself as a child. Growing up in the California desert, my family went to see snow for the first time when I was 9 years old. Whenever I feel self-doubt creeping in or have a big decision to make, I look at this photo and talk to my nine-year-old self: “Am I being brave enough? Why can’t I be the one to do this crazy, bold thing? I’m proud of us for who we’ve become.”
We’re all born self-confident; the unabashed belief you have in yourself as a child is the purest and simplest form gravitas. It’s a quality that we can carry with us throughout our adult lives. Psychologist Carl Jung described it as an “inner child” that, in its best form, could be a source of strength, wonder, and optimism to bolster well-being (the reverse is true, though, if you had a traumatic childhood).
Every one of us can tap into this source of strength at anytime. The easiest way to do this is to have tangible reminders for ourselves every day. They are a powerful tool to help us choose confidence, and to keep us motivated. My reminder is that photo on my desk.
I challenge you to choose a photo of your younger self and have it handy (on your phone or on your desk) and ask yourself today what would your younger self tell you? It may give you the push you need to be brave and bold.
With gratitude,
Lisa Sun
GRAVITAS Founder and CEO
