Reclaim childlike wonder by excavating old memories

As you watch old family photos, a wave of nostalgia sweeps over you—your five-year-old grin, bright crayons in hand, the wildly crooked scrawl spelling out your name. There was zero fear then. Every stroke was a masterpiece, every color a discovery. You didn’t censor yourself back then.

Fast-forward to ten: you’re forging kingdoms from cardboard boxes. The air smells of your mother’s baking and fresh paint. You were a fearless architect of wonder, impatient with “grown-up” rules.

By fifteen and twenty, self-doubt crept in, replacing that carefree spark. Yet in your mind, those childish triumphs still glow like lanterns. Neuroscience calls this ‘involuntary memory,’ buried treasures resurfacing without effort.

Mindful excavation reconnects you to those root joys. When you write down who you were and why you loved it, you breathe life back into your creative core. That radiant child-self still lives in you, waiting to be invited back.

Sit with old photos or simple memories of when you believed anything was possible. Note ages and adjectives—your fearless, curious, spontaneous selves. Circle traits you miss and underline those you still carry. Then pick one old-time passion—maybe doodling mismatched cats—and set aside a short time to do it. Let the sensations guide you back to raw, unfiltered creativity. Try it this afternoon.