As we grow older, life’s demands often pull us further away from the things that once made us feel alive. The childlike wonder, the pure excitement of discovery, and the passions that stir us seem to fade into the background as responsibilities, expectations, and external influences take over. Yet, the key to finding meaning and fulfillment in our lives may lie in revisiting something far more personal—those early impulses that guided us in our youth.
These “impulse voices,” as Abraham Maslow called them, hold the power to reconnect us with who we truly are. By embracing the activities and passions we once loved without judgment or pressure, we can rediscover the raw energy that once made life feel so vibrant. Reawakening these inner voices isn’t about recreating the past—it’s about reclaiming our authenticity and finding our path back to joy.
The way to recover the meaning of life and the worthwhileness of life is to recover the power of experience, to have impulse voices from within, and to be able to hear these impulse voices from within.
—Abraham Maslow
The Power of Experience
From the moment we are born, we are immersed in a world of sensory experiences, each contributing to our consciousness’s unique shape. Our early experiences serve as the initial threads that weave the fabric of who we are. They help us form the first inklings of our identity. Through them, we uncover what resonates with us long before we develop the filters that society and adulthood impose.
The power of experience, however, isn’t merely about gaining knowledge or collecting memories. It’s about the profound impact that certain moments have on our development. When we’re children, everything is a discovery. Every new experience feels like a doorway into something new, unknown, and exciting. The seemingly trivial activities—scribbling in a notebook, playing with building blocks, or, as I vividly remember, forming words from a set of letters—become incredibly meaningful. It’s as if every interaction with the world is a brushstroke painting of our desires and passions.
I remember that in my fourth-grade class, the teacher asked us to come up with as many words as possible from the letters “carpenter.” The simplicity of the task struck me in a way I couldn’t explain then, but I now understand it as a powerful experience. Rearranging letters and forming new words felt almost like a mini revelation. It wasn’t just an exercise in language—it was a discovery of potential. Each word I found felt like a small victory like I had unlocked a hidden treasure chest within the constraints of what seemed to be an ordinary task.
That feeling of awe and wonderment, triggered by something so simple, stayed with me. These moments of youthful curiosity are potent because they remind us that experience is a tool for unlocking new dimensions of meaning far beyond the surface level. Looking back at those early experiences, we realize that the energy we once invested into those moments of play and exploration was never wasted. It shaped us, guided us, and offered a roadmap to our deeper passions, desires, and aspirations.
The power of experience is transformative because it’s visceral, immediate, and untarnished by the expectations that come later in life. When you’re a child, logic or practicality does not constrain the world. There is no “should” or “should not” that limits your experience. Everything is open for exploration, and that’s where the magic lies. In adulthood, we often become overly cautious, overthinking every decision and weighing risks and rewards. But the beauty of experience in childhood is that it is pure, instinctual, and uninhibited. It is through reconnecting with these raw, unmediated experiences that we can recover the meaning of life and rediscover what it is that truly makes us feel alive.
The Impulse Voices Within Us
There is something powerful about how we instinctively know what we like and don’t. These early, unfiltered preferences, as Maslow pointed out, are not shaped by outside influences. They come from a much deeper place—the core of our being. This is the essence of what Maslow calls “impulse voices.” These voices are the whispers of our true selves, the part of us that remains unaffected by societal pressures, familial expectations, or the judgments of others. They are the most authentic and pure expression of who we are before the outside world’s noise begins to infiltrate.
Each person’s impulse voice is different, reflecting the unique chemistry that makes up our personalities. From a young age, we intuitively understand what excites us, holds our attention, and brings us joy. One child may be naturally drawn to the arts, spending hours sketching or playing music. Others may gravitate toward sports, their energy channeled into physical activity. Yet another might be enchanted by books, captivated by the worlds within the pages. These preferences are not learned—they are instinctual. They are the earliest, most genuine expressions of who we are.
These voices are deeply personal and yet universal. We all have them, even if we have forgotten how to listen. What is striking is that these voices are often not shaped by others. They are the purest, most untouched aspects of our being. Our parents, teachers, and peers may try to shape our interests, guiding us toward what they believe is “best” for us. But at our core, we know what truly resonates. Children who love to read have not been taught to love books; they simply do. The child who enjoys playing with machines is not influenced by external expectations—they are simply following an impulse.
As we grow older, we lose touch with these impulse voices. Society teaches us to suppress these urges, to prioritize logic, productivity, and practicality over playfulness and curiosity. We are conditioned to focus on goals, responsibilities, and “important” tasks. The noise of adulthood drowns out the voices that once guided us toward what felt authentic. Yet, these impulses are always there, waiting to be rediscovered.
These early, instinctual preferences are not arbitrary whims—they are important clues. They offer a roadmap for understanding what brings us fulfillment and joy. The hobbies, interests, and passions we are naturally drawn to are deeply tied to our chemistry and essence. When we reconnect with these early inclinations, we find ourselves closer to our true self. The beauty of these voices is that they are timeless—they don’t fade with age. They simply need to be heard again.
Reconnecting with Your Inner Voice
Life often gets in the way of our connection to these inner voices. The demands of adulthood—work, family, social expectations—can obscure the simple pleasures that once defined us. However, the key to rediscovering meaning and purpose is revisiting these early passions. It’s about carving out time to reconnect with the things that once brought us joy, not out of obligation but out of a desire to reawaken that deep inner resonance. Reconnecting with these childhood passions doesn’t mean trying to recreate your past—it means reclaiming the essence of those experiences.
Ask yourself, what did you love doing as a child? What activities made time seem to fly by? Was there a moment when you lost yourself in a task—perhaps it was drawing, playing an instrument, solving puzzles, or even something as simple as jumping on a trampoline or riding a bike? The beauty of these memories lies not in the activities themselves but in the emotional resonance they carry. It’s not about the specific actions; it’s about the energy and feeling behind them.
Reconnecting with these activities allows us to tap into the parts of ourselves that have been neglected or suppressed. These impulse voices never go away, but they often get buried under the weight of everyday life. Revisiting the things we love as children is an act of self-discovery. It’s about reawakening the parts of ourselves that once felt full of possibility and potential. Returning to childhood passions can reignite creativity, joy, and a sense of purpose for many. These moments offer an invitation to stop, listen, and reconnect with the unique, authentic aspects of our being that the demands of adulthood may have overshadowed.
As adults, we often think of joy and creativity as indulgences—things to pursue only in our free time, as a reward for productivity. But reconnecting with our childhood passions should not be seen as a luxury—it’s essential to living a fulfilled and meaningful life. By making time for these activities, we not only reconnect with ourselves but also unlock a deeper sense of contentment and joy that can guide us through the challenges of adulthood.
Embrace Your Childhood Passions
The challenge of adulthood is not simply to function but to thrive—often, this requires reconnecting with the aspects of ourselves that gave us life and joy in our younger years. Maslow’s “impulse voices” provide a map for rediscovering this sense of self. These voices are not distant memories but present-day guides waiting to be heard. Every day, we can choose to reconnect with the passions and activities that once fulfilled us. These passions are a direct line to our true selves, and when we listen, we can find clarity, direction, and meaning.
Start small. Commit to doing one thing today that you loved doing as a child. It could be as simple as reading a book that inspired you, engaging in a hobby that brought you joy, or even revisiting a childhood place with fond memories. The key is to be present in the moment, allowing the experience’s joy and wonder to wash over you without distraction. It doesn’t matter if the activity is “productive” or not—the purpose is to reconnect with a piece of yourself that still exists, no matter how much time has passed.
By making a daily habit of reconnecting with our impulse voices, we rediscover our passions and create the space for personal growth and transformation. These activities are not just nostalgic—they are pathways to our deeper selves, helping us remember what truly matters and what makes us feel alive. This process unlocks new sources of joy, creativity, and purpose. Amid life’s complexity, reconnecting with these simple, instinctual passions brings us to a place of meaning and fulfillment.
Personal Reflection: The Voice
Daily Law: Do something today that you used to love doing as a kid. Try to reconnect with your impulse voices.
From Robert Greene in conversation at Live Talks Los Angeles, February 11, 2019
I am sure you have experienced nostalgia on a few occasions—the feeling you get when you do something you used to do in your childhood after a long time. It could be something you dreaded doing as a child and did not like one bit, and as an adult, it still feels like a nightmare to imagine doing that thing for the rest of your life.
In either case, impulses born from childhood experiences can guide you toward your life’s calling and away from things that aren’t. As we grow up, we stop doing many things because other more pressing concerns arise and we must be “serious.”
For me, those activities were singing and dancing. I love to sing. I was in the school choir for a time. I never dared to perform live on stage because I feared others would judge me. Now and then, when I am alone, I sing my favorite songs. It brings me joy.
I enjoyed dancing as a child. Bollywood music and Michael Jackson songs were a big part of my obsession with dancing. I never shared these passions with others, but they were my secret. No one in my school or college knew about them. Now, I am learning salsa, bachata and kizomba. My weekends are dedicated to dance classes, and I make time for dancing at least thrice weekly. Even though I don’t want to make dancing a career, it is still a huge part of my social life.
Conclusion
Reconnecting with our impulse voices isn’t a simple task nor an overnight process. In the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to forget what once ignited our sense of wonder. But by intentionally making space for the things that brought us joy as children, we can begin to recover a part of ourselves that might have been buried under the weight of adulthood.
Whether reading, drawing, or simply spending time in nature, these activities are more than just hobbies—they are reflections of our truest selves, untouched by external expectations. By listening to these voices, we rediscover what it means to feel alive and connected to something greater than ourselves. In doing so, we reclaim meaning and invite a deeper sense of purpose and joy into our everyday lives.
This article is part of the Reflections on The Daily Laws Series, based on Robert Greene’s book.