What is your inner child
The term inner child was proposed by psychologist Carl Jung (1875-1961). Based on the concept that we all have a childlike element within our sub-conscience. This element referred to as the ‘Inner Child’ remains with us throughout adulthood.
Any emotions or experiences that we encounter as a child, play a significant role in our decisions as an adult. These can be good and bad.
Carl Jung studied his own childhood and aligned it with his adult life to study the patterns and effects that our childhood can play on us. His solution is to re-parent the child within us. To connect, guide and love your inner child as you would now you are an adult.
If you have had a childhood that was traumatic or any unresolved issues, for instance; if you were constantly called a failure as a child, you are likely to grow to naturally feel like you are not good enough and a failure. By subconsciously telling your younger self that they are good enough and offering love, you are able to heal old wounds and move forward from them.
Doing this regularly can reprogram the mind and any behaviour patterns that have been developed from childhood.
Matthew 18:2-4 is inner child in the bible
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus advises the people to become like children to get into the gates of heaven. Think of the nature of the average child, they are pure, loving, happy, fearless, optimistic, humble and honest. A child usually has many wonderful traits that are difficult for an adult to uphold.
Many Christians believe that Jesus is advising us to become like our child selves. To be truthful and to not have judgment. How often have you heard a beautifully honest child. Even when it is insulting to an adult, the adult will not be offended. For they know that a child will just say what they see.
They are unaware that people have emotions and can feel offended. This innocence and freedom are what Christians believe will earn you a place in heaven.
Why should you connect to your inner child?
Your inner child is a representation of yourself through the different stages of childhood. It is your most original self. Your true identity. The inner child is not a child, but an area within your subconscious that has held and stored information.
The inner child is often linked to our creativity and curiosity. It can bring us joy, playfulness and wonder. But it also holds our deepest sorrows, fears and anger. Deep rooted emotions may unawarely stick with us, as we grow.
To be oblivious or to ignore our inner child, we unknowingly abandon this part of ourselves. Anything we are carrying from childhood may be reflected out into our realities. In the forms of repeating patterns and self-sabotaging habits.
Allowing yourself to acknowledge your inner child, is allowing yourself to heal. This will benefit your life in positive ways.
A child is capable of seeing the world in a very straightforward way. Causing them to be independent thinkers. They don’t care what others think of them and are very clear about what they want. There is a sense of love and freedom that can be adopted from a child.
How to connect and heal your inner child
Being like a child doesn’t mean to act like a child it is to become ‘childlike’. The innocence, the joy, the freedom, these are all things you harness when you connect with your inner child
Acknowledge and Meditate
First you will need to acknowledge that you have an inner child. It is important to recognise any pain that may have been inflicted during childhood, in order to gain an understanding of how your childhood may have effected you.
Tiana Rosser advises that you imagine (through meditation) that you are to meet your inner child in a place that feels safe for you and your inner child. It is also important to take note of whatever form your inner child takes in your imagination. It is perfectly fine for it to appear random, this may hold clues to how your inner child is feeling. Also make a note of the age of your inner child as this may be a period in time that you need to heal from.
Love
Once you have acknowledged your inner child, learn to embrace them with compassion. You need to be judgment free with your inner child. And offer the same love and understanding you would give to any other child.
Once you have allowed your inner child to feel safe it will have the freedom to fully express. Allowing you to dive deeper into healing your inner child.
Take a trip down memory lane
Diving into memories may bring out emotions you wasn’t aware of. Make sure your inner child is equipped with love as you do this. Start off by picturing some childhood memories, then let them unravel and reveal themselves to you, rather than you dictate them.
It may flow into areas that you are uncomfortable with, but use your now adult support the inner child within you with support, understanding and guidance.
Be loving and caring towards yourself through any hard memories.
Write a Letter
Do this with or without the above steps. Writing a letter can be very effective. It gives you the freedom to talk to yourself. Writing to your inner child is a great tool to address and release lingering emotions.
Psycologist writer Lucia Capacchione also advises to reply to your letter using your opposite hand from your writing hand. To help tap into the subconsciousness of your inner child.
See a therapist
Some traumas leave adults in a stream of poor decisions. If you know that you had a traumatic childhood but find it difficult or silly to connect with your inner child, seeing a therapist will be a good start of unearthing any pain that lingers inside you.
There are also lots of helpful tips on positivepsychology.com with different techniques to give a go and start that healing process.
Any old trauma that is not healed will linger like poison in your body
Healing your inner child will lighten and strengthen your adult life. You will become more confident and happy with yourself. But more importantly, your form a deeper insight within yourself.
