Unlocking Your Purpose by Listening to Your Inner Child

I never set out to become a writer, but I certainly set out to become something creative. Inspired by the mesmerizing worlds of 1990s children’s cinema, I became enchanted by the possibilities of storytelling. I vividly remember wearing out my VHS copy of Disney’s “The Lion King,” realizing one solid truth: I was meant to be a cartoon. But… how does one become a cartoon?

So, I sat down and wrote a letter to Mr. Disney. 

Dear Mr. Disney,…

Each word in the letter (which is now lost to the hands of Father Time) was carefully crafted and written in my foolproof 8-year-old handwriting with my pink squiggle pen — for extra flourish, of course. It was a masterpiece! I was certain that it would manifest my dreams once Mr. Disney opened it and realized he couldn’t live without the brilliant animated creations of Lauren Hoffmeier! I gave the letter to my mom to mail to Mr. Disney, for surely mothers know where to send such important letters.

Fast forward on the real-life VHS tape of my life, it turns out Mr. Disney never received the letter, for reasons too mysterious to tell, and I never became a cartoon at the age of 8. Such a bummer. Instead, I spent years trying to figure out what this animated quirk of mine was. I wanted to give it a label and make something of it, something that other people could understand. I practiced voices, harmonies, took countless theater classes, and eventually clung to a more socially acceptable label of living life as a ‘walking cartoon.’ I became an actor.

And boy, oh boy, did I believe it. Acting was my lifeblood! I lived and breathed everything that came with it, including all the negative side effects of stress, depression, harmful health choices, and exploitation. I told myself that acting was my life’s purpose, yet something didn’t feel quite right.

So, let’s hit the fast-forward button again.

Recently, with the upcoming live-action release of “The Little Mermaid,” memories of my childhood Disney dreams came flooding back. And the letter! The letter I wrote to Mr. Disney all those years ago. Although that letter never made its way to its intended recipient, there’s a part of me that believes, in some magical Mary Poppins-esque fashion, that someone or something out there received the message. Because, after leaving acting behind and putting the spotlight on my mental health, I remembered the solid truth I buried away from childhood: I was meant to be a cartoon. That was my life’s purpose! But… how do you align with your purpose? (Especially one that sounds frankly unrealistic, ditzy, and weird.)

By listening to the voice of your inner child.

As an 8-year-old kid, I knew I was meant to be a cartoon because that’s how I interpreted embodying joy. And I was right. It took me several rounds of trial and error and years of roadblocks to uncover the fact that I was meant to share all of those voices, characters, stories, and yes, even the harsh realities of life experiences, by creating children’s books. Finally, I embodied living the cartoon life, and I felt a sense of balance. Once I embraced every part of my cartoon-self and let go of the need to fit into the grownup box of “supposed to,” I opened myself up to receiving an answer to my letter.

And that answer came from within me.

So, as you embark on your own journey of personal discovery, I encourage you to write that letter to your own version of Mr. Disney. Take the time to patiently listen to what your inner child has to say. Then, take a walk with your inner child as your guide and align yourself on the path of your True Purpose. And that road is sure to lead you on an adventure like no other.