Have you ever paid attention to a voice that came from inside you and transported you back to your childhood? No matter how old you are, the younger version of you is a part of you every day, and at certain moments in your life, you will be very happy to be reminded of it.
Under the term “inner child”, we can imagine ourselves in different periods of our childhood. It is an expression of positive and negative experiences, experiences, natural enthusiasm or curiosity that we experienced and felt as children. During this period, we are very impressionable and we try to absorb as much as possible what our immediate surroundings teach us.
Unfortunately, it’s not always all about positive experiences. If you experienced some kind of psychological or physical trauma in your childhood, it is very likely that its consequences will remain with you in adulthood. In these cases, psychologists emphasize the importance of healing our inner child, thanks to which you will be able to bring a greater sense of safety and security into your life.
The process of healing the inner child is certainly not easy and it might seem that it requires definite help from a therapist. However, there are several ways you can help yourself to some extent.
1. Choose a photo from your early childhood
The ideal is to find the oldest photo possible and place it somewhere where you will see it every day. The way you choose is entirely up to you, whether it is a digital photo that you set as wallpaper or a saver in your mobile phone, or a classic that you print out and stick on, for example, a mirror.
2. Identify painful memories
You will probably want to start with the memory that the selected photo evokes. If it would be difficult for you, use a notebook, but don’t be afraid to ask for help from a close friend or family member, who can guide you and help you delve deeper into the past.
3. Put everything on paper
If you can identify a painful memory, write down what happened and how you felt. At the same time, try to think about how this memory translates into your personal or professional life. Do you find in any particular situations or conversations that they make you feel the same or similar?
Even in this case, if this memory is a trigger for anxiety states that you cannot overcome on your own, turn to a good friend or family member for support.
4. Reflect on what you have learned
At this point, you should try to repair the painful memory by creating an association that is new and positive. No one is asking you to immediately forgive those who hurt you. It’s more about trying to focus primarily on something good, at least one lesson that you’ve learned despite everything. Can you ask others for help? Did you learn better emotional support? Have you created your own safe space, or have you become a support for those struggling with similar traumas?
This new connection will not come overnight, so you have to be patient. However, if you manage to follow through on it, you will build more self-love and be able to better understand what is triggering your unpleasant feelings. At the same time, over time you will become more balanced in situations that previously managed to drag you down.
5. Change the photo and repeat the process
When you heal one of your inner children, choose another photo in which you are at a different, older age. This is how you will gradually move from your early childhood memories to the present. It requires long-term work, but in the end, you will realize that it was worth every minute of the time you spent on the process.
And while they say we shouldn’t look back too much, sometimes you just can’t move forward without looking back on some things.
Also Read: 5 Tips For Healthier And Happier Children
