Episode 155 - Childlike vs. Childish Part 1: Imagination & Wonder
The Freedom of Emotional Adulthood While Preserving Childlike Wonder
Many of us reach our 40s and 50s without truly developing emotional maturity. As women in midlife, we're often caught between responsibilities and the longing for something more vibrant in our daily experience.
"No one sits us down and teaches us how to manage our hearts and minds as we grow into adults," Jill observes. "We're all just trying to figure this out together."
What Does Emotional Childhood Look Like?
Emotional childhood manifests in ways we might not immediately recognize:
Reacting immediately without pausing to consider our response
Expecting our spouses or children to make us happy
Blaming others for how we feel inside
In contrast, emotional adulthood brings tremendous freedom. It means taking responsibility for our own joy and pain, understanding that we alone are responsible for our feelings, and finding security in faith rather than in other people's approval.
The Magic of Childlike Imagination
There's something precious about how children see possibilities everywhere. Jesus invited us to come to him as little children, which suggests embracing wonder and trust.
Childlike imagination helps us:
See divine presence in everyday moments
Find creative solutions when life gets complicated
Dream big dreams, even in the mid-season of life
Jill recalls how her young children would immediately grab tape, scissors, and glue when toys broke. "It usually didn't work," she reflects, "but it amazes me how their little brains went towards finding a solution. That's childlike imagination — seeing possibilities where others see problems."
Childlike vs. Childish: Understanding the Crucial Difference
There's an important distinction between God-given imagination and childish fantasy that pulls us away from responsibility.
Childish fantasy becomes problematic when:
We use it to avoid taking action
It helps us escape difficult emotions or conversations
It creates unrealistic expectations
We believe things will work out without effort on our part
Jill shares her own experience: "I remember feeling so frustrated with certain relationships in my life, and I would spend time thinking about how other people should change instead of self-reflecting on the part I was playing in the disconnection."
Developing Mature Imagination
Mature imagination means holding creativity and responsibility together:
Not just dreaming, but also planning
Using creativity to find solutions and implementing them
Imagining possibilities while staying grounded in reality
Using imagination to understand others without making assumptions
Real-Life Examples of Mature Imagination
Mature imagination might look like a woman whose husband loses his job after 25 years. Instead of panicking or denying reality, she imagines several ways forward, creates a realistic budget, and perhaps starts a small home business while he job searches. Her imagination serves her family rather than pulling her away from real life.
Other examples include:
In parenting: Seeing the world through your adult daughter's eyes to restore connection
In marriage: Finding new ways to connect as empty nesters
In grief: Reimagining grief not as a problem to solve but as a river to navigate
Reclaiming Childlike Wonder Through Play
As we age, we tend to get more serious, often without even noticing. "Children understand something we've forgotten," Jill says. "Play isn't just fun. It's essential."
When we invite play back into our lives:
Stress levels drop
We connect more deeply with others
Problems that seemed overwhelming become manageable
Practical Ways to Bring Play Back Into Your Life
Start small:
Take a different route home and notice something new
Try a five-minute dance break when no one's watching
Draw instead of writing your grocery list
Redefine productivity:
Recognize that rest and play increase effectiveness
Schedule playtime as intentionally as work time
See play as soul care, not selfishness
Play with others:
Host a game night
Take a class to learn something just for fun
Start a joy journal
Find playfulness in daily tasks:
Turn on music while cleaning and dance
Make up silly songs about what you're doing
Challenge yourself to find three beautiful things during your commute
Overcoming Barriers to Play
"I know some of you are probably thinking, 'that sounds nice, but...' We always have these reasons why we can't do something," Jill acknowledges.
Common barriers and how to overcome them:
"I don't have time": Start with just 10 minutes a day
"I'll feel silly": That initial awkwardness is just your play muscles getting back in shape
"I don't know how anymore": Follow the lead of children or pets in your life
"Serious problems deserve serious approaches": Play actually helps access creative solutions we might miss in serious mode
Final Thoughts: Growing Up Without Growing Serious
Jill concludes with a powerful reminder: "Growing up doesn't mean growing serious. It means holding both responsibility and wonder in the same heart, knowing when to be practical and when to play, when to plan and when to dream."
Your Invitation This Week
Take one small step toward reclaiming childlike imagination and wonder:
Spend five minutes cloud watching
Color instead of scrolling on your phone
Ask yourself: "What would my eight-year-old self do right now?"
This article is based on Episode 155 of the Seasons of Joy podcast with Jill Pack, a certified faith-based life coach. For more insights on creating a joyful life in every season, visit seasons-coaching.com.
Next week's episode will continue exploring the theme of "Childlike vs. Childish" with a focus on purposeful play and adaptability.
Developing Mature Imagination
Mature imagination means holding creativity and responsibility together:
Not just dreaming, but also planning
Using creativity to find solutions and implementing them
Imagining possibilities while staying grounded in reality
Using imagination to understand others without making assumptions
Real-Life Examples of Mature Imagination
Mature imagination might look like a woman whose husband loses his job after 25 years. Instead of panicking or denying reality, she imagines several ways forward, creates a realistic budget, and perhaps starts a small home business while he job searches. Her imagination serves her family rather than pulling her away from real life.
Other examples include:
In parenting: Seeing the world through your adult daughter's eyes to restore connection
In marriage: Finding new ways to connect as empty nesters
In grief: Reimagining grief not as a problem to solve but as a river to navigate
Reclaiming Childlike Wonder Through Play
As we age, we tend to get more serious, often without even noticing. "Children understand something we've forgotten," Jill says. "Play isn't just fun. It's essential."
When we invite play back into our lives:
Stress levels drop
We connect more deeply with others
Problems that seemed overwhelming become manageable
Practical Ways to Bring Play Back Into Your Life
Start small:
Take a different route home and notice something new
Try a five-minute dance break when no one's watching
Draw instead of writing your grocery list
Redefine productivity:
Recognize that rest and play increase effectiveness
Schedule playtime as intentionally as work time
See play as soul care, not selfishness
Play with others:
Host a game night
Take a class to learn something just for fun
Start a joy journal
Find playfulness in daily tasks:
Turn on music while cleaning and dance
Make up silly songs about what you're doing
Challenge yourself to find three beautiful things during your commute
Overcoming Barriers to Play
"I know some of you are probably thinking, 'that sounds nice, but...' We always have these reasons why we can't do something," Jill acknowledges.
Common barriers and how to overcome them:
"I don't have time": Start with just 10 minutes a day
"I'll feel silly": That initial awkwardness is just your play muscles getting back in shape
"I don't know how anymore": Follow the lead of children or pets in your life
"Serious problems deserve serious approaches": Play actually helps access creative solutions we might miss in serious mode
Final Thoughts: Growing Up Without Growing Serious
Jill concludes with a powerful reminder: "Growing up doesn't mean growing serious. It means holding both responsibility and wonder in the same heart, knowing when to be practical and when to play, when to plan and when to dream."
Your Invitation This Week
Take one small step toward reclaiming childlike imagination and wonder:
Spend five minutes cloud watching
Color instead of scrolling on your phone
Ask yourself: "What would my eight-year-old self do right now?"
This article is based on Episode 155 of the Seasons of Joy podcast with Jill Pack, a certified faith-based life coach. For more insights on creating a joyful life in every season, visit seasons-coaching.com.
Next week's episode will continue exploring the theme of "Childlike vs. Childish" with a focus on purposeful play and adaptability.
Join My Conversation Project
I'm currently seeking midlife women of faith for meaningful one-on-one conversations about your unique experiences during this important life season. These 30-minute private Zoom calls provide a safe space for you to share your authentic journey—both struggles and strengths—with deep listening and no judgment.
To participate, email me at jill@seasons-coaching.com with the subject line "Conversation Project."
This blog post is based on Episode 154 of the Seasons of Joy podcast with Jill Pack, certified faith-based life coach and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Learn more about it HERE.
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About the Author: Jill Pack is a certified faith-based life + relationship coach and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She helps women of faith navigate their seasons of life with greater purpose and joy. For more resources or to work with Jill, visit www.seasons-coaching.com.
