What founders can learn from their inner child

What founders can learn from their inner child.

Inner child…. Inner what?! I know, but stay with me here. There’s lessons to be learned for you as a founder, and they are sitting within your inner child.

Developed from the work of pioneering psychologist Carl Jung, the inner child is the idea that within us, we have a psychical form of our younger selves. Your inner child is creative, a little bit wild, free-spirited and wide-eyed. But they can also be vulnerable, wounded, and cause internal conflict and pain for us.

If there was such a thing as a secret ingredient to a happy life, a recipe for fulfilment, a magic potion to a balanced sense of self, I would not be shocked if someone said that it is all about nourishing your inner child.

Children often have this never ending supply of vitality, energy and innovative tendencies. They pull at your leg and say “..but why?” to everything, and never stop being curious. And if they don’t have an answer to something, they find someone who does. Let’s look at all of that, through a founder's lens.

Innovation. Creativity. Ideas and imagination. These are all elements of you as a founder.

Building something new, finding an answer to a problem, creating resolution to improve the experience of others. Re-connecting with your child-self can spark that creativity and innovative nature that embodies you as a founder.?

Have a think, and set some time aside soon to engage in a creative activity you loved as a child. You just might find that it gets you out of that creative-slump you have been faced with, or brings about a new perspective or idea for you.

Emotional freedom.

As adults, we have learned from society the ‘correct’ way to behave, and the ‘correct’ way to express emotions. For many of us, that ‘correct’ way of expressing emotions was taught to us as not addressing them at all, or suppressing them deep down inside. Keeping those feelings bottled up will never serve us, and I can almost guarantee it causes more distress. As a child, it was more acceptable to scream and throw a tantrum in the supermarket, or cry when we were hurt. Now I’m not expecting you to go and do that, but I am suggesting that you find healthier, more sustainable ways to release those built up emotions and frustrations. Whichever outlet you choose, engage with it, and engage often. Gaining control over our emotions is setting them free.

Be curious.

Never stop asking questions, and asking “..but why?”. Asking why allows us to think more critically and deeper about everything. By going one step deeper, with yourself and your business, it allows you to engage with yourself and your work in a much more purposeful way.

If there’s one thing to take away from this, it is that your inner child can say a lot about you. Take the time to reflect on it, engage with it, nourish and learn from it.?

• Dani Olliffe, Psychological Wellbeing Associate at Founders Taboo

Further reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/06/28/how-to-use-the-psychological-concept-of-the-inner-child-to-make-better-business-decisions/?sh=4404e3665330?

https://www.associationofmbas.com/how-embracing-your-inner-child-can-make-you-a-better-entrepreneur-and-business-owner/?

https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/leadership-lessons-from-your-inner-child/?

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AND! Keep your eyes peeled for an inner-child themed challenge coming VERY soon.