Be Childlike, Not Childish

Elizabeth Gilbert — the internationally acclaimed author of Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear— offers a paradigm-shifting insight that we, as leaders, coaches, and high performers, would be wise to take to heart.

On The Marie Forleo Podcast, Gilbert shares a powerful distinction that slices through the noise:

“You have to be childlike in the pursuit of your life, but you cannot be childish.”

Let that sink in.

As leaders, we are constantly navigating complexity — guiding others through change, managing high-stakes decisions, and striving to unlock potential in ourselves and our teams. But how often do we pause to examine how we’re showing up?

Gilbert’s distinction gives us a fresh lens:

• Childlike: Curious. Open. Teachable. Joyful. Resilient. In awe of what’s possible.

• Childish: Entitled. Reactive. Resistant. Blaming. Defeatist. Stuck in “It’s not fair.”

She explains it like this:

“Childlike means walking into the world with wide-open wonder… ready to be amazed, ready to be taught. Childish means: I want it, I should have it, and if I don’t, I’m going to throw a tantrum.”

Imagine leading your team — or tackling your next challenge — with childlike wonder:

• What if we met problems with curiosity instead of fear?

• What if we asked the so-called “dumb” question that unlocks a breakthrough?

• What if we let go of cynicism and gave ourselves permission to be amazed again?

This isn’t about being naive. It’s about staying open instead of closed. It’s about resisting the quiet hardening that can come from burnout, disappointment, or just too many life setbacks.

Childlike leaders aren’t less serious — they’re more alive.

By contrast, childish leadership often shows up in subtle, destructive ways:

“This isn’t fair. I deserve better — without putting in the work. Forget it. I quit.”

These sentiments might feel justified in the moment, but over time, they corrode trust, credibility, and progress.

Gilbert reminds us:

“You can be childlike and mature at the same time. And mature means looking after yourself in the real world, in a real way.”

True maturity isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about allowing ourselves to feel. It’s about holding space for both responsibility and wonder. It’s about showing up grounded and inspired — ready to grow, to serve, and to do the necessary work that moves the goalpost forward.

Here are five ways to nurture childlike wonder in your leadership:

1. Audit your mindset: Ask yourself, Am I leading with curiosity or entitlement? Wonder or complaint?

2. Stay teachable: See every moment — and every person — as an opportunity to learn, especially the unexpected ones.

3. Interrupt childish patterns: When frustration hits, pause and ask, Am I reacting childish or responding with childlike wonder?

4. Model curiosity: Let your team see that it’s safe — even encouraged — to explore, experiment, and admit what they don’t know.

5. Protect joy: Build in space for play, presence, and lightness. That kind of energy is not only restorative — it’s contagious.

There’s a world of difference between approaching life with childlike wonder and childish entitlement.

When we lead with openness, curiosity, and humility, we don’t just grow ourselves — we create cultures brimming with greater possibility.

And that’s the kind of magic our teams, our organizations, and our spirits are craving more than ever.

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