Reconnecting with Your Childhood Dreams

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Recently, I had the chance to visit Plum Village for the first time. I had been wanting to go for a long time. I had heard about it from many different people, yet despite living relatively close, I never made the time to visit. Plum Village, founded by Zen master Thích Nhất Hạnh, is a meditation center and monastery in the southwest of France—a sanctuary where people come to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and cultivate presence.

A Simple Question

During a Dharma talk—a teaching session on Buddhist philosophy and self-inquiry—we were asked to introduce ourselves and answer a simple but powerful question:

“What did you want to be when you grew up?”

As we went around the group, people shared their childhood dreams: pilot, astronaut, dancer... People smiled as they shared their childhood dreams, each revelation evoking memories that felt vivid.

The discussion naturally led us to our inner child—the part of us that still carries those early aspirations but often gets buried under responsibilities, expectations, and the need to be “realistic.”

Over time, we distance ourselves from childhood dreams. We take on roles, follow predefined paths, and meet external expectations. But how much of that dreamer still exists in you today?

Leadership and the Inner Child

"Our childhood dreams, while they may seem distant, still hold clues about our authentic selves."

As leaders, we often get caught up in obligations, short-term goals, and the demands of daily execution. But leadership isn’t just about getting things done—it’s about vision, authenticity, and having the courage to align with who we truly are.

Our childhood dreams, while they may seem distant, still hold clues about our authentic selves. They are a key to understanding our deeper motivations. When we reconnect with these early aspirations, we rediscover parts of ourselves that may have been long forgotten.

My Childhood Dream

When I was a child, I wanted to be an actor. I still remember watching old John Wayne westerns, which aired on Tuesday nights in France. I was absorbed in the characters, the adventures, the storytelling.

My mother strongly disapproved of this dream, even as I was chosen to play some roles while in school.

Still, I eventually pursued it early in my career, and looking back, I realize how much that experience taught me. Today, I use many of those lessons in my leadership workshops and training sessions. The art of presence, communication, and improvisation—these are all essential leadership skills.

Our childhood dreams don’t disappear completely. Sometimes, they just take on a different form.

Rediscovering Your Authentic Leadership

So how does this relate to leadership? A leader is not just someone who follows the prescribed path but someone who dares to be authentic and who inspires others with their lives. Reconnecting with your childhood aspirations can provide insights into your leadership style, strengths, and even your purpose.

Here are some ways to rediscover and integrate your inner child into your leadership journey:

1. Reflect on Your Childhood Dreams

Take a moment to think about what you wanted to be when you were a child. Why did that dream excite you? What about it felt meaningful? Even if you pursued a completely different path, what elements of that dream still exist in your life today?

2. Identify the Core Elements

Even if your childhood dream seems far from what you do now, look at the underlying themes. For example:

• For those who wanted to be astronauts—was it about the thrill of exploring the unknown, pushing the boundaries of human potential, or seeing the world from an entirely new perspective? Astronauts must embrace uncertainty, adapt to unfamiliar environments, and maintain a vision beyond immediate challenges—qualities that also define bold and forward-thinking leaders.

• If you wanted to be a pilot— perhaps it was the sense of adventure, the thrill of taking off into the unknown, or the responsibility of guiding others safely through turbulence. Pilots gain a unique perspective from above, seeing the bigger picture while staying focused on the path ahead—qualities that are also invaluable in leadership. 

• If you wanted to be a musician, perhaps it was the joy of self-expression, the ability to move people through sound, or the challenge of perfecting your craft. Musicians create harmony from chaos, listen deeply, and collaborate to bring a vision to life—just like great leaders. Whether you pursued music or not, the desire to inspire, connect, and bring beauty into the world may still shape how you lead today.

3. Align Your Work with Your Authentic Self

One of the most fulfilling aspects of leadership is aligning what you do with who you are. When you embrace your natural strengths and passions, you become a more compelling and inspiring leader. Consider how you can shape your work to incorporate aspects of what has always energized you.

The Legacy of Thích Nhất Hạnh

This question got me thinking about what lives inside of us that gets covered up over the years and how it holds keys and insights if we dare to uncover it.

Thích Nhất Hạnh’s teaching of Interbeing—the idea that everything is deeply interconnected and interdependent—offers a powerful perspective on leadership. Interbeing suggests that a good leader is not an isolated figure of authority but someone deeply connected to the people they lead, the environment they shape, and the shared vision they cultivate.

To lead others, we must first learn to lead ourselves with mindfulness, compassion, and authenticity.

This reflection of the inner child turned out to be unexpectedly insightful for me. Such a simple question, yet profoundly revealing. I realized I too needed to, or wanted to remember my own inner child.

A Final Reflection

Take a moment to reflect on the dreams of your past and how they can inform your future. Whether you pursued them directly or they evolved into something new, those early aspirations still hold wisdom.

As I left Plum Village, I was struck by how a simple question can spark profound self-reflection, especially for those seeking authenticity and self-discovery. These principles of self-leadership are at the heart of our leadership development programs, helping individuals reconnect with their purpose and lead with greater impact. If this resonates with you, I invite you to explore our leadership programs, where we integrate self-awareness, and authentic leadership to help you thrive. https://www.humanava.com/leadership