I’ve just returned from a neighbourhood walk with my daughters’ two dogs – Mags and Mapes (aka Maggie and Maple) – and stumbled across three little worlds at the base of three different trees. Tiny scenes of wonder: bunnies, mushrooms, miniature houses, animals, all carefully arranged beneath shaded canopies.

Who created these little worlds? What were they thinking? Who were they building them for?

I could keep asking questions, but the real magic lies in the curiosity these small creations sparked. What once was just a patch of grass – likely struggling in the tree’s shadow – was transformed into something imaginative and intentional. Thought went into every element. And it reminded me of a powerful truth:

“With our thoughts, we create our world.”

If that’s true, then creating a better world starts with better thoughts. Big or small, everything begins with intention – one thought, one action at a time.

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Starting Within: The Power of Reflection

Lately, I’ve been listening to teachings by Master Shi Heng Yi, a Shaolin monk who grew up navigating two cultures as a child of an Asian family living in Germany. He talked of the pressure he felt from his parents when it came to choosing his career, and his decision to opt for the simplicity and self-exploration of monastic life. His message is this:

“Enjoy your time – find a way to do the things you like to do.”

It’s a profound reminder, echoed at a recent funeral I attended. The priest summed up a lifetime of wisdom with two simple questions:

“Did you enjoy your life?”
“What did you learn?”

So simple. So powerful.

And they’re not just for adults. In fact, these are the very types of questions we want our children to grow up asking themselves too.

But how do we enjoy life when it’s packed with work, bills, parenting, and responsibility?

We begin by noticing. By asking ourselves:

What do I enjoy?
What makes me feel alive or curious or at peace?

As Master Shi puts it, “We are too unique to copy the past from someone else.”

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The Science of Self-Reflection

Reflection is more than a good idea – it’s a brain function. According to neuroscientist Dilip Jeste in his book Wiser, self-reflection activates a specific area of the brain: the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), right behind the forehead. This part of the brain lights up when we think about our own memories, make self-judgments, or consider our personal future.

Interestingly, children and adults activate this region differently. And older children activate the mPFC less intensely than younger children or adults because at that age they resort to introspection less often. Younger children show greater activation of the mPFC during spatial tasks – they’re in a phase of spatial learning and doing. But as we grow and develop specific skills, our brain adapts. Experience refines how and what we reflect on.

That’s why younger minds often hold onto negative experiences like Velcro, while adult minds are more like Teflon – things don’t stick as easily.

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Why Self-Affirmation Matters – Especially for Kids

Jeste also notes that self-affirmation activates the brain’s reward centres – the same ones involved when we eat our favourite food or win a prize. It’s a powerful emotional buffer, helping protect us from negativity and reinforce our strengths.

Most interestingly, reflecting on future goals activates these areas even more than thinking about the past. That’s exactly what the Inicio Albums are designed to do.

Each year, children reflect on what they loved, who they are, and what they’re proud of. As parents, you can help your kids to do this. It might be as simple as displaying a certificate on a page that recognises good work. I still remember occasionally making it to a school assembly and getting to see one of my kids receive a student of the week award. It doesn’t need to be a big achievement. It’s more making the most of all the small achievements.

But just as importantly, they look ahead – imagining what they might want to become, explore, or achieve. They capture the now, while anchoring themselves in meaning and hope.

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A Final Thought

The little worlds at the base of those trees were reminders of what’s possible with a little thought and care. Our minds can transform ordinary moments into magic. And in doing so – for ourselves and our children – we help create a world rooted in reflection, purpose, and joy.