Finding Yourself Through Play
The path of self-discovery feels never-ending when you’ve been far away from yourself for so long. When I started this journey, I realized I could barely remember my childhood memories. Either I repressed them, or I self-abandoned for so long that I forgot what was authentic to me. We do it for many reasons. Some that just feel like pure survival.
But something interesting happens when we allow ourselves to play again—when we try things just to try them, without expectation or performance. We begin to remember. We remember how curiosity used to feel. How joy didn’t need to be earned. How we once expressed ourselves freely, without fear of judgment or needing to have it all figured out.
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Erasing the Old Narrative
Recently, I finished an 8-week Group Art Therapy series with Mindfully Active. Each week, we were given a prompt, time for art-making, and a chance to reflect as a group. I was intimidated at first—everyone else seemed to be a “real artist.” Some had formal training or natural talent, while my last real attempt at making art was in 8th grade, scrapbooking and collaging vision boards.
Even as I write this, I notice how quickly I slip into the old narrative: “they were better than me.” I remember comparing myself to a friend who was incredibly artistic. Our teacher constantly praised her drawings—never mine. And that subtle lack of acknowledgment planted a deep seed: I’m not artistic. That’s not who I am.
So I abandoned that part of myself. I boxed it up, labeled it “not for me,” and moved on.
But this art therapy experience cracked that box wide open. It was freeing to just show up, paint what I felt, and process without rules or judgment. No one’s art was “better.” There was no praise given to elevate one person’s creativity over another’s. And in that space, I realized something huge: I am creative. I always have been. I just forgot.
Since then, I’ve noticed how often I’ve held myself back in other areas of life because of old labels I’ve outgrown. That shift—reclaiming play as part of my identity—has opened up a level of fulfillment I didn’t know I was missing.
Connecting With My Inner Child
One of the most healing ways I continue to rediscover play is through my daughter.
There’s something incredibly grounding about seeing the world through her eyes—how naturally she leans into wonder, how she doesn’t overthink or perform, she just is. For me, play looks like getting down on the floor to mold playdough side by side. Singing loudly with her in music class, shaking tambourines and dancing without hesitation. It’s crouching next to her by the bay as she digs through the dirt, determined to find the perfect rock to throw into the water.
These moments pull me out of my head and into my body. Into the present. They remind me that play isn’t just an act—it’s a state of being. One that heals, connects, and restores the parts of us that adulting tried to quiet.
Life Wants You to Play
In my blog post on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, I share how self-actualization sits at the top of the pyramid—where purpose, creativity, and authenticity live. Play belongs here too. It’s not just for children. It’s not a luxury. It’s a way home to yourself.
Life wants you to experiment with it. To move toward what lights you up—even if it feels silly, especially if it feels silly. Don’t box yourself in by saying “this isn’t for me” before you’ve even given it a chance. Sometimes, the most meaningful insights come not from digging deeper into what’s wrong—but from lightening up, loosening our grip, and simply playing.
So pick up the paintbrush. Sign up for the dance class. Build the sandcastle with your kid. Try the hobby just because it looks fun. These are not distractions from your path. They are the path.
What’s one way you can incorporate play this month? Comment below! I have a guide coming out soon with journal prompts to help you explore this and so much more! click the button below and fill out the contact form to get on the waitlist for the guide drop coming in June!
