We all have an inner child within us. It is the part of us that holds memories of our past, the memories that we cherish, as well as the memories that we want to forget.
The things that happened in the past that didn’t resolve will become a deep-rooted wound and create a cycle of trauma until the emotions are fully resolved and understood. The pain that has been hidden inside doesn’t go away. Instead, it deepens its roots and resurfaces as you grow and experience events that remind your inner child of the pain that was hidden. Inside our wounded inner child, the repressed feelings and emotions that are stuck inside will constantly play and cause you unexplainable fear, pain, and self-doubt.
Healing your inner child can take time, but it’s a challenge we must triumph from in order to be free from the pain, the fears, and achieve our limitless possibilities.
Start healing with these simple exercises:
Acknowledge your inner child
To heal your inner child you must acknowledge it first. Try thinking of it as a process of self-discovery. Recollect your childhood experiences which could have left a great impact on you. It could have been an experience of loss, abuse, insult, or any other experience that has left a great emotional impact. Recognize these events and let them out so you can begin to understand their impact and heal.
Write a journal
Journaling can help you recognize patterns in your adult life that you want to change, as well as recognize toxic unhelpful patterns that began in your childhood. Try remembering your past as you write in your journal. You can use old photos or videos to help you recall how you felt. And then write down those memories and the emotions you felt as you reminisce about those events. You don’t need to be constructive or conscious in writing, just write as your emotions flow and your inner child speaks to you.
Write a letter
Through writing a letter you can freely communicate with your inner child. You can write about childhood memories from your adult perspective, offer insight or explanations for distressing circumstances you didn’t understand back then, tell a few things you wish you knew when you were younger, or share the things you’ve always wanted to talk about but kept secrets. Through this letter, you can also provide assurance and comfort to your inner child so it can let go of the pain that you both have been carrying and be at peace.
Meditate
Meditation is a great method of opening yourself up for answers and helps you get more comfortable with unwanted emotions. Meditation can gently guide you into a safe space of reconnecting with your inner child and free yourself from the ties that bind you and keep you stuck. Through meditation you allow your unconscious mind to guide you through the whole process of healing the deep-seated traumas and wounds inside.
Remember the joys of childhood
With adulthood comes pressure and responsibilities. By remembering your happy childhood memories you can heal the pain and trauma of your inner child. You can do this by enjoying your favorite cake or ice cream since you were a child. You, can also go out and have fun with your friends. Do something that can help you remember the joy you felt when you were a child and use these positive emotions to heal and overcome your pain.
Talk to a therapist
Therapists help you heal by creating a safe space for you to navigate your emotional turmoil and learn helpful strategies for healing your inner child. They start by typically recognizing how your childhood experiences and other past events affect your life, relationships, and overall well-being.
Your inner child is you. It needs love, attention, recognition, praise, and other types of emotional support. Love yourself more and love the inner child inside of you. Because your inner child is you and healing can only be given by you.
