Why You Lost Your Spark (And How to Find It Again)

Put the Phone Down and Play: Reclaim Self-Expression, Presence, and Your Inner Child Written and recorded by Tanner. This quick thought explores how people often lose touch with who they are by abandoning childlike presence, play, and self-expression due to self-criticism and others’ standards. Using the example of a dog’s lack of self-concept, it encourages carving out two or three hours a week—without phones or distractions—to create, learn, and try new experiences like dancing, rock climbing, improv, baking, painting, writing, or inventing games with loved ones. The speaker shares how playing bass and drums once brought calm, emotional regulation, and relief from discontentment by pulling him into the present, and notes that this kind of expression is missing for many adults today. The message is to prioritize joy, gratitude, and mindset through intentional self-expression as an act of self-love before looking back with regret. 00:00 Finding Your Inner Child 01:54 Presence Over Pressure 02:32 Where Did The Dream Go 03:01 Permission To Play Again 03:48 Why Self Expression Matters 04:32 Music And The Flow State 06:29 Make Time For Your Joy 07:58 Do It Just For You 08:39 Life Is Short Choose Play 09:25 Put The Phone Down