How I've Been Connecting with My Inner Child Through Acting like a Diva

We often come into this world full of magic, brimming with our true, authentic energy. Yet, life’s harsh influences can strip away, suppress, neglect, and even make us forget these precious qualities. While adolescence might be about discovering who we are in relation to the outside world, I believe adulthood is about rediscovering the innate traits we were born with—and learning to reconnect and unapologetically express them.

When reflecting on your inner child and the things that once brought you immense joy, you might find yourself asking: How did I stray so far? Why did my younger self feel such a need to suppress these qualities? Why did I believe they couldn’t fit into who I’ve become?

Perhaps that’s just me.

I always thought I had stayed connected to my inner child. And in many ways, I have. But it took someone else loving me in a way I’d never fully experienced to create such a profound ripple within me.

I think that’s what great love does. It loves you so completely that it brings you home to yourself. It helps you remember the parts of yourself you had forgotten, the ones you tucked away. It enables you to embark on a new journey of self-discovery.

For me, that means re-embodying the silly, sweet, attention-loving performer that little Tillie was. My early years were filled with joy: playing outside with animals and plants, painting my body, and every evening dressing up in costumes to put on dance performances. Little Tillie loved dresses, accessories, performing, dancing, and running around naked.

But as I grew older, many of these joys slipped away. Bullying, criticism, jealousy, and fear smothered my inner flame.

Thoughts like:

• I’m not a very good dancer, so I shouldn’t dance openly.

• What if I’m not good and people don’t like it? Better not perform.

• You won’t be taken seriously as a professional if you dress like that.

• How will people perceive you if you behave like that?

• You aren't talented enough.

  
  

These thoughts led to years of covering up, shying away from being center of attention, only doing things when I felt they were “good enough” to be seen, and dimming my light.

2024 became the start of my journey back to rediscovery. With the help of my fiancé, I fell in love with little Tillie and decided I wanted to be her again. Now, I dress boldly simply because it brings me joy. I find myself putting on playful dance performances in our living room. I’ve accepted opportunities to perform Lyra. I’ve embraced my inner diva—the smiley little girl who just wanted to be expressive. Not for validation, but because it made her feel sparkly.

The joy this has brought me is unmatched. I feel more like myself than I ever have. I adorn, I perform, and I embrace. While it’s still a work in progress, I stay guided by my inner child. Little Tillie was full of unbound joy and authenticity, and harnessing her power is allowing me to step fully into who I’m meant to be.

Reconnecting with your inner child is an act of radical self-love and reclamation. It’s about peeling back the layers of fear, conditioning, and self-doubt to rediscover the parts of you that once felt joyful, free, and whole.

Ask yourself: What did I love to do before the world told me who I should be?

Start small—dance like no one’s watching, wear the outfit that makes you smile, or revisit the activities that once lit you up.

Take a moment to sit down and write a list: What were the things you dreamed of doing, buying, or trying as a child but were told no? How did you want to dress, act, or express yourself before judgment made you hold back?

Maybe these things no longer align with who you are now, but honoring those forgotten desires—even in small ways—can be incredibly freeing. By embracing the essence of your younger self, you’ll unlock not only healing but a more authentic connection to the person you’ve always been. Your inner child is waiting to remind you of the magic within—are you ready to embrace it?