The Childlike Heart of Business

(or: Why your work might need a little more wonder and play)

Why we forget wonder

It’s so easy, isn’t it, to slip into the serious side of business?
The planning. The metrics. The must-do lists that seem to multiply overnight.
We get wrapped up in being responsible, in striving to do things the “right” way... whatever that means.

And in the process, we can lose something precious.
That spark of curiosity.
That playful willingness to explore.
That wide-eyed wonder that makes the world, and our work,  feel alive.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, especially through the lens of two beautiful archetypes from the Tarot's Major Arcana: The Moon and The Star.

What The Moon teaches us

The Moon is all about the mysterious, the unseen, the liminal spaces.
It invites us to wander off the well-lit path and explore the shadowy places of our imagination.

It can feel uncertain, even a bit eerie... just like childhood games where we didn’t quite know the rules.
But there’s magic there.
Because when we let ourselves dream and follow hunches, new ideas emerge.
The Moon helps us play with possibilities, instead of needing everything nailed down.

In business, that might look like experimenting with a new offer before you’re “ready.”
It might be trusting your gut on a project that logically doesn’t add up, yet still feels aligned.
Or simply allowing yourself to daydream without an agenda, and seeing what surfaces.

What The Star teaches us

Then there’s The Star.
Oh, I love The Star.

It’s that gentle, hopeful energy that believes, almost childishly, that something beautiful is unfolding.
It’s the soft trust that your wishes matter, that you’re guided, and that there is light even after the darkest nights.

The Star reminds us to nurture our own sense of awe.
To lie back (even metaphorically) and make wishes on constellations.
To let ourselves be inspired without needing to immediately turn that inspiration into a strategy or a funnel.

The gifts of being childlike (not childish)

There’s a difference, of course, between being childlike and childish.
Childish is impulsive, reactive, refusing responsibility.
Childlike is open, curious, and enchanted by the world.

As adults, especially as entrepreneurs, we desperately need more of that.
It keeps our work from becoming stale.
It keeps us soft-hearted, so we can connect authentically with clients and collaborators.
It fuels creativity, innovation, and even resilience. (Kids are experts at bouncing back after setbacks.)

When we’re childlike in our business:

• We’re more willing to try things without guarantees.

• We can handle uncertainty with a sense of adventure instead of dread.

• We often stumble into solutions we’d never have planned on paper.

A few ways to invite more wonder & play

• Go on a “wonder walk.” Leave the podcasts and to-do lists behind. Just notice what’s around you.

• Create without a purpose. Write, doodle, design, or dance, not to sell or produce, but because it feels good.

• Ask: “What would be fun right now?” Even for 10 minutes.

• Let yourself dream impractically. What would you create if money, time and opinions didn’t matter?

• Play with archetypes. What would The Moon or The Star do in your business today? How would they approach a challenge?

A gentle reminder

At the end of the day, your business is meant to serve your life, not the other way around!
So why not let it be a little more magical?
A little more full of stardust and moonlight.
A little more like that child in you, who still wants to skip and explore.

Who knows what treasures you might find?