How I’m Healing My Inner Child

A photo of me aged 5 looking pissed off.

In my previous post, I shared that one of my intentions for the year is to let my inner child know how loved and special she is. Today, I wanted to delve into some of the ways I am working on doing this, in the hopes that some of these tips may help you.

Three Things I Have Been Doing

1. Journaling:
   - I wrote a letter to my younger self where I shared kind words, expressing love, understanding, and reassurance. I’ll share the letter in the next post, so you can see how you can write one too.
   - I’ve also been reflecting on childhood memories to identify any patterns or beliefs that may have originated from that time.
2. Art and Creativity:
   - I recently bought a new notebook and have started drawing again to express my emotions and work through stories from my childhood that I believed.
3. Self-Compassion Practices:
   - I have started talking to myself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer to others, instead of beating myself up over every mistake I make or flaw I feel I possess. I started doing this because I realized a couple of things — one was that I wouldn’t talk to anyone else the way I talk to myself and two, I wouldn’t want anyone to talk to me the way I talk to myself.
   - Challenging your inner critic and replacing negative self-talk with affirming and supportive language (you can read more about how I do that here)

Other Things That May Work

Before writing this article, I researched various methods I could use to heal my inner child and thought of sharing some of them with you. Even though these are things I haven’t implanted yet, I’m committed to giving them a go to see how they resonate with me and fit into my journey.

1. Visualization and Meditation:
   - Imagine yourself as a child, visualize yourself providing comfort, support, and love to that younger version of yourself.
   - Practice guided meditations specifically designed for inner child healing.
2. Reparenting
   - You can practice reporting by engaging in self-care activities and making choices that prioritize your well-being.
3. Inner Child Retreat:
   - Set aside intentional time to focus on your inner child. Create a safe and nurturing space to connect with your emotions and memories.
4. Inner Child Affirmations:
   - Develop positive affirmations that specifically address the needs and emotions of your inner child. Repeat these affirmations regularly to reinforce positive beliefs and challenge negative thought patterns.

While these are things that have worked for me, I know that they won’t work for everyone. Remember that inner child work aims to foster self-love, acceptance, and healing, but everyone’s journey is different. healing your inner child is a process that takes time, so be patient with yourself.