4 Ways To Embrace Your Inner Child

4 Ways To Embrace Your Inner Child
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Regardless of our background, we all carry echoes of our childhood with us that shape the way we navigate the world as adults, and unresolved wounds from childhood can have an impact on our overall mental health, interpersonal relationships, and self-concept. Inner child work is important because it offers the opportunity to address these wounds as adults and re-work responses that no longer serve us. The inner child represents the part of ourselves that holds our earliest experiences, emotions, and vulnerabilities. These experiences are often stored away, especially if they involve pain or needs that were not met when we were young. Inner child work is the process of reconnecting with that younger version of ourselves and then giving it the compassion, care, and attention it may not have previously received in order to re-work how we interact with ourselves and others. Here are 4 practical ways you can connect with your inner child:

Journaling

A great way to begin inner child work is through journaling, which allows you to create a space to communicate with your inner child and begin to explore what this part of yourself needs. It may be helpful to start by imagining yourself at a younger age, maybe during a moment when you felt vulnerable, misunderstood, or alone. Some examples of journal prompts that I find helpful include: What might I want to ask my inner child? What would I say to offer them comfort? What do they need that they didn’t get as a kid? What are their hopes and dreams? By acknowledging these emotions and experiences, you can acknowledge the ways your inner child may impact you and begin to better understand these more vulnerable parts of yourself.

Practicing Self-Compassion 

Sometimes the inner child can be burdened by feelings of shame, fear, inadequacy, or guilt. These feelings can manifest in adulthood as self-criticism, perfectionism, and always needing to do more in order to feel “good enough.” Self-compassion can look like offering yourself understanding and kindness, particularly in the ways that you didn’t receive when you were young. A great way to do this can be by paying attention to patterns of negative self-talk throughout your day. When you notice these patterns coming up, practice instead speaking to yourself with patience and kindness, acknowledging that it's okay to feel hurt or vulnerable. Giving yourself permission to feel these emotions without self-judgment can be a powerful first step toward working through them and making meaning from them. 

Reconnecting with Joy

Children naturally explore the world through play, creativity, and curiosity. In fact, play is the child’s medium for processing and expressing emotions. Inner child work encourages you to reconnect with activities that bring you joy, whether it’s something that you did as a child or something new that brings a sense of freedom and creativity. Connecting with joy in my own life has sometimes been as simple as re-reading a favorite book series. Other examples might look like drawing, joining a sports team, or taking a dance class - whatever it is that provides you with the space to be fully present and experience joy without any expectations. 

Prioritizing Self-Care

Inner child work can be hard, and engaging with self-care is an important piece of this process. Honoring your physical, emotional, and mental needs is part of offering yourself compassion and learning to acknowledge the more vulnerable parts of yourself. The great thing about self-care is that you can tailor it to your needs and lifestyle - and it doesn’t need to be complicated. It could be setting healthy boundaries, carving out five minutes of the day for a mindfulness exercise, getting to sleep a few minutes earlier, or making sure to take a walk outside during a break. Listening to your mind and body is a great way to determine when you need some extra support. The vulnerable parts of you are valuable and worthy of care, and engaging with self-care can be an important reminder of this reality. 

Inner child work is an ongoing practice of healing, self-compassion, and growth, so remember to be patient with yourself. By engaging with your inner child, you nurture the parts of yourself that may have been wounded, and  create space for greater emotional freedom by honoring the more vulnerable parts of you and your past. 

If you would like support in connecting with your inner child or addressing anxiety or childhood trauma, reach out to me at Lifeologie Counseling Ada, Michigan at (616) 929-0248 , click the request an appointment button above, or find a Lifeologie Counseling therapist near you at wefixbrains.com/locations.



About Madeline Gifford (Breay)

Madeline Gifford (Breay) works with adolescents and adults, focusing on anxiety, sports performance, depression, grief, and childhood trauma. She is accepting new clients at Lifeologie Counseling Ada, Michigan, where her goal is centering you with empathy and warmth throughout your therapy experience.

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