Let me Introduce You to Your Inner Child-Rachel Devine

The inner child represents the part of your psyche that holds childhood memories, feelings, wounds, personality traits, and unmet developmental needs. Becoming aware of this aspect of yourself is crucial to healing the inner child. We all have an inner child with issues, whether you realize it or not. By raising awareness of this subconscious inner child, you can start the healing process through inner child work, that will allow you to move forward in life in an easier fashion. So what is inner child healing? Let’s explore this aspect of inner child. Let’s look at ways to recognize and do some inner child work.

Inner child healing by understanding the inner child

Recognizing your inner child

Some signs your inner child is active include:

• Hypersensitivity to perceived rejection or exclusion

• Reacting defensively or impulsively when criticized

• Craving nourishment, affection, or praise from others

• Struggling with boundaries or priorities

• Fearing abandonment or loss in relationships

• Defaulting to shame or inadequacy when struggling

• Intense anger issues

These are just a few of the signs that your inner child is emerging, usually during stressful times or times of emotional trigger. Emotional triggering happens when we are confronted with an event that subconsciously brings us back to childhood event that was upsetting or traumatizing, and the intense emotions come out of left field. Inner child channels are raw, vulnerable emotions and instincts. Notice when excessive moodiness, neediness, or insecurity arise, often revealing your inner child’s outsized influence.

A very telling time is during road rage. If you become intensely angry during road rage, chances are that is your inner child raging from within.

What is your Inner Child and Connecting to it?

Let’s introduce yourself to your inner child. You can become increasingly aware of your inner child through the following:

• Journaling: Dialogue with your inner child in writing to uncover their feelings.

• Visualization: Use your imagination to picture your inner child. What do they look like? How do they feel?

• Body sensations: Notice where you hold stress physically when upset. These body clues reflect the inner child.

• Childhood reflections: Review memories and influences from your upbringing for insights.

• Inner child healing meditation: Go back into your childhood and meditate on a time of distress and be with your inner child. See what he or she is telling you about their feelings.

Honoring the Inner Child

You can start integrating your inner child through:

• Speaking to your inner child internally with compassion is very rewarding. Thank your inner child for being there and bring as much love as you can to your child.

• Spending time doing activities your inner child enjoys, like dancing, coloring, or playing is rewarding.

• Allowing yourself to cry or feel sadness with self-kindness rather than dismissing it.

• Displaying old childhood mementos and pictures can invoke fond feelings. Get a picture of yourself as a child and tell that child how much you love him or her daily.

• Doing your best to provide for the inner child’s needs—whether play, connection, validation, nourishment, or rest is so important. Practice self-care in all areas and be aware of your needs and wants.

Gaining awareness of your inner child allows you to update harmful programmed beliefs and consciously respond to your inner needs with wisdom, understanding and love. Inner child work leads to wholeness, self love and releasing old wounds and dysfunctional patterns.

Rachel Devine is the author of a new inner child book, Discovering the Power of the Secret Within - Healing your Inner Child to Manifest your Dreams.

Devine Intervention - Inner Healing Center.