The Chirping Symphony Within: Unveiling Our Inner Harmony

Uday Dandavate
5 min readJan 5, 2025

--

Years ago, my team at SonicRim conducted a study to understand how people relate to the sounds they encounter in their daily lives. We provided about fifty participants with audio recorders and index cards to capture the sounds they heard and their reactions to them. Upon analyzing the collected data, we identified interesting patterns and trends. However, one particular index card left a lasting impression on me. A participant described how the soft sound of snowflakes drifting to the ground on a quiet winter night brought them peace and serenity.

This card was memorable because it highlighted the significance of the sounds our minds create when surrounded by silence. It also served as a poignant reminder that the images in our minds possess voices too.

Drawing from this recollection, I want to share my thoughts on three types of internal voices that accompany us throughout our lives: the ego, conscience, and inner child. As my class from NID celebrates its 50th anniversary in the design world this year, I believe it is crucial to delve into aspects of human experience that are often overlooked or underestimated, yet significantly impact our sense of self.

Our ego, conscience, and inner child continuously influence our thoughts, perceptions, opinions, decisions, and actions. An integral part of personal growth lies in recognizing the presence and potential of these voices within us and how they surface during our daily experiences.

Recently, I’ve been practicing an exercise where I reflect on situations in which my words have triggered unexpected or negative responses, as well as when others’ words have elicited similar reactions within me. I contemplate how I or the other person could have expressed ourselves differently if we had acknowledged the influence of our egos in those moments. This exercise has taught me that although it can be challenging to separate ourselves from our egos, merely being mindful of their presence in our conversations can lead to more thoughtful interactions. By learning to distinguish between a person’s voice and their ego, we can gain a deeper understanding of our own thoughts and those of others.

Our conscience serves as a trusted companion, always keeping our best interests at heart. This voice questions our thoughts before they are verbalized, our feelings before they are displayed, and our decisions before they are executed. As a lighthearted reference, I often refer to my own conscience as my “inner wife.” Engaging with this voice encourages creativity and stimulates a dialogue within us, similar to how conversations with diverse individuals can generate well-considered ideas and solutions. Within the voice of conscience lies the wisdom of generations and the ethical guidelines that shape our moral compass.

Another inner voice I have come to value spending time with is that of my inner child. On the first day of design school, the faculty in charge of the foundation year shared a profound piece of advice:

“One crucial aspect of the design foundation is learning to unlearn what you’ve been taught at school and reclaiming your childlike freshness.”

This advice has stayed with me throughout my life. It has shown me that a child’s curiosity opens a window to life’s abundant offerings. Furthermore, while writing my book, “Finding Your Beebo,” I discovered that connecting with our inner child is key to healing and restoring from childhood trauma.

Recently, an undergraduate student from Aurobindo University shared her thoughts on LinkedIn after reading my books. I’d like to share a part of her post here:

“Last year, during a design seminar at my college, Centre for Design Studies, I met Uday Dandavate, a design educator and author. I never imagined that a conversation with him would lead to such a profound shift in my perspective. As a second-semester design student, I was lost — uncertain about my future, specialization, and career path. Sensing my confusion, he kindly gifted me three books from his “Design Thinking for Everyday People” series.

What I didn’t realize then was that these books would help me discover not just my path in design, but a deeper sense of purpose in life. This book taught me to reconnect with my inner child. Beebo isn’t just a character — it’s the curiosity, compassion, and creativity we all have within us, waiting to be reawakened. Design is about embracing that curiosity, not just seeking stability.”

This student’s experience further highlights the importance of nurturing our inner child in order to unlock our creative potential and find our path in both design and life.

I would like to share an encounter with five different women in four different cities to emphasize the importance of healing the inner child. During a poetry reading tour, I met five women in different cities who were inspired by my poetry to share with me their own journeys of overcoming childhood trauma. These conversations inspired me to write a poem that reflects the collective wisdom of these courageous women:

Embrace

When I look

at the horizon

at sun rise

I want to feel

curious and open

and reach out

to my possibilities

but instead I feel

fatigued

by my past and

robbed ppl

of my innocence

I want to dip my brush

in the changing colors

of the sky

and paint my imagination

but instead

I feel lost

in the darkness

of the night

I want to hold

the ray of light

in my palm

and let

the warmth

of the morning

bring me love

but instead

I feel. cold and

Incapable

of feeling loved

I want to

overcome my past

and embrace the future

and

regain

my innocence

Wonder

and playfulness

how do I do that?

it dawned on me

that I must first

witness my inner child

and listen to her

as she

pours her heart out

she has needs

that only. I can understand

she needs love

that only I can provide

she need time to heal

that only I can give

she needs security

that I never had

i can be

a caring and loving parent

to my inner child

and give her a childhood

that I never had

that is the only way I can

heal and regenerate

my own sense of wonder

and look to the future

through the eyes of

a child i never was

This poem serves as a testament to the transformative journey of healing our inner child, allowing us to move forward with renewed innocence, wonder, and playfulness. It is a reminder that we have the power to be the caring, loving parents to our inner child, and in doing so, we can embrace the future with hope and resilience.

Conclusion:

In our journey through life, we encounter a multitude of experiences, challenges, and discoveries that shape who we are. By engaging with the various voices within us, such as the ego, conscience, and inner child, we can better understand our true selves and unlock our creative potential. Embracing the importance of healing our inner child allows us to overcome past traumas, fostering personal growth, resilience, and a newfound sense of wonder. Through self-reflection and awareness, we can learn to appreciate the moments that bring us peace and serenity, allowing us to live more fulfilling lives.

--

--

Uday Dandavate
Uday Dandavate

Written by Uday Dandavate

A design activist and ethnographer of social imagination.

No responses yet