Dear Stoics,

Today is International Children’s Day. While most of you probably don’t celebrate with finger painting and cotton candy, we thought it’d be a nice excuse to reflect on how we can let our inner child speak out more. After all, we were all kids once.

Sure, those years look different for everyone. Some of us have fun memories, others… not so much. But whatever your childhood looked like, there’s always something worth remembering about that younger version of you. Because kids are pretty wise in so many ways! Let’s talk about a few things we could all go back to sometimes.

Wear your heart on your sleeve

Kids don’t give a damn about subtleties. If a child is upset, they will loudly and immediately let you know about it. That is beautiful, and more importantly, super good for you.

We spend way too much energy worrying about what others might think about us to actually express what we’re feeling. Openly processing what’s going on inside helps clear your head and regulate your nervous system. Recognizing how you feel and giving yourself the space to go through it is much more of an act of self-care than face masks and manicures.

Just say “no”

Children are absolutely fearless when they don’t want to do something. They are the ultimate experts in protesting. And learning from them how to say “no” is something most of us should practice much more often.

Of course, we’re not suggesting you ditch all your work meetings or ignore your friends, but knowing when to set healthy boundaries is a great power and a useful skill. If you don’t feel like going out on a Friday, it’s okay to stay in. If a commitment is draining you, it's okay to leave it. Balance is the key!

Embrace the mess

Have you ever seen a child not happy with their drawing? They hold it up proudly and expect their parents to put it on their wall, regardless of what it looks like. More importantly, they find simple joy in having made something. That’s exactly the spirit you need in your life!

Try painting something and remember you don’t have to be Leonardo da Vinci, sing at a karaoke bar knowing that you’re not Whitney Houston, and go to an improv class not expecting to act like Meryl Streep. Not everything in life has to be about success or measurable gains. Some things are just for fun, and “good enough” is “actually enough” when you do something for your pleasure and satisfaction.

With that nice thought, we’ll leave you now. No more reading assignments for today, just go out there and have some fun. How about an ice cream cone for a little celebration?

Yours truly,
The Stoic App Team

P.S.: Hey, you know what else kids do? Write a diary. So open the Stoic app and journal about today!

You know those tiny, easy-to-miss moments of joy like when you accidentally make a perfect latte art in the shape of a troll flying a plane on your coffee? Or when the sun breaks through for exactly five minutes during a grey afternoon? In psychology, these are called glimmers.

This week, we’re going to practise noticing them. Because that’s really what it takes — a practice. The more you look for them, the easier it gets to find them. Every day this week, you’ll find a new journaling prompt in the app. By the end of the week, you’ll have your very own collection of good things.