The Inner Child: My Secret Source of Confidence
Written on
Chapter 1: The Movie Theater Experience
Imagine a young child sitting alone in a movie theater.
The child is perched on a chair, legs swinging freely, with a large bucket of popcorn resting in their lap, beaming with excitement. As the film begins, their eyes widen in anticipation. Throughout the screening, the child reacts with sheer joy, laughing uncontrollably and expressing delight at every twist and turn. Unlike other viewers, who might feel fear or anxiety, this child maintains an unwaveringly positive attitude, even when the film shifts between genres—whether it's drama, action, horror, romance, or comedy.
The film may not always be lighthearted, yet the child finds humor in the protagonist's worries. "Why do they stress so much?" the child muses, "It’s just a movie! The main character won't get out of it unscathed anyway; they forget the bigger picture."
This innocent perspective doesn't harbor malice towards the protagonist. Instead, it highlights the absurdity of their concerns, reminding me that this child represents my inner self—a supportive observer that fuels my confidence.
My inner child embraces me unconditionally, steering clear of my fears and anxieties. Instead, it chuckles at my struggles, understanding that the challenges I face aren't as serious as I perceive them to be. While I sometimes lose sight of this, every recollection of my inner child restores my confidence.
When I remember that life is simply a series of experiences, that nothing is truly at stake, I regain my footing. I realize that confidence doesn’t require justification. I am inherently supported, loved, and whole without needing external validation. Everything I possess is already sufficient, and any additional blessings are just that—bonuses.
In moments of worry, when I fret about the future or dwell on past mistakes, it’s this child that gently nudges me back to reality. Initially, those feelings of doubt and low self-esteem may surface, but recalling the child in the theater grounds me once more. All it takes is that simple memory.
While I still aspire for more—recognizing that these aspirations don't dictate my happiness allows me to embrace my identity and current situation with confidence. I may still feel shy or make blunders, but remembering that life is akin to a movie helps slow down the chaos. In that stillness, I find the power to choose confidence once again.