29 May 7 Advantages of Healing Your Inner Child
“Wear waterproof mascara” the sign in our school said. I was working at a special right brain education school in Yokohama, Japan. Every now there were workshops for the parents that we had to go too. I didn’t take the sign seriously and didn’t really believe my boss.
The day of the inner child workshop came. It started off usual enough with introductions and activities. That was until we had to lie down and do a visualisation to meet our inner child.
We relaxed and got taken to a beautiful beach where our inner child came into view. The next guidance was to hug the inner child. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I hugged this tiny version of me. A version I hadn’t connected with ever before. In an instant, I understood the sign. I had no idea I could be this emotional. I had no idea that this part of me was so lonely and neglected and that she needed that hug from the adult me.
I was struck by how powerful the experience was. A few years before, I’d read “the Celestine Prophecy” and the idea of being mindful of how you communicate with children struck a chord in me. I became fascinated by the idea of the inner child.
In November 2008, I was on a psychic development course at the foot of Mt Fuji. At the end of the course, we had to stand up and make a wish. I wished to understand inner child healing. Our teacher – Craig Junjulas, grounded our wishes by tuning in psychically to us. He saw an angel carrying a child pass through me.
I soon learned that you have to be careful what you wish for! 18 months later, I was living back at my childhood home, studying Child Psychology and working in nurseries. It was intense!! My first day working in the UK after moving back was at a profit-oriented nursery. The way the staff spoke to the children broke my heart but I felt powerless to say anything. I instinctively knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t articulate what was so wrong about it. It was frustrating to feel I couldn’t do anything about what I knew was so wrong.
Eventually, I worked at a city council-run nursery where they got it. The way they spoke to the children was so different, and it has a balance of male and female nursery staff, plus young kids with special needs too that got included in the group activities, The staff were firm when they needed to be, but you never heard raised voices. At last my own inner child found somewhere she felt safe. I wasn’t earning much, but I’d have days where I’d think “I’m actually getting paid to do this! How awesome is that?” Especially the day we created a pretend ice cream shop. The shop wasn’t real, but the ice creams were!
That’s the feeling I’ve been chasing. Those moments of “Pinch me – It’s too good to be true! This is how I make money?!”. It’s a subtle, quiet joy.
It’s the subtle, understated joy of living from your authentic self.
And I believe that helping the inner child feel safe to play, explore and imagine is the best way to come back to the joy of being your true self.
Below is what ChatGPT gave me when I asked it for the advantages of healing the inner child. I was pretty impressed!
See what you think…
“Healing your inner child can bring numerous advantages and benefits to your overall well-being. Here are some key advantages:
Emotional Healing: Your inner child represents the experiences, emotions, and needs that were unmet or neglected during your childhood. By addressing and healing these wounds, you can release emotional baggage and achieve a greater sense of emotional well-being.
- Self-Awareness and Understanding: Connecting with your inner child allows you to gain insights into your core beliefs, patterns, and behaviors that may have originated from childhood experiences. This self-awareness helps you understand yourself better and make conscious choices in your present life.
Self-Compassion and Self-Love: Healing your inner child involves developing a compassionate and nurturing relationship with yourself. You learn to treat yourself with kindness, understanding, and love, which can enhance your self-esteem and overall self-worth.
Improved Relationships: As you heal your inner child, you become more aware of how your past wounds may have affected your relationships. By resolving these issues, you can establish healthier boundaries, communicate more effectively, and foster more fulfilling connections with others.
Emotional Resilience: Healing your inner child equips you with the tools to manage and navigate difficult emotions. You develop resilience and emotional strength, enabling you to cope with life’s challenges in a healthier and more balanced way.
Personal Growth and Empowerment: By healing your inner child, you break free from limiting beliefs and negative patterns that have held you back. This process allows for personal growth, self-empowerment, and the opportunity to create a more fulfilling and authentic life.
Increased Joy and Playfulness: Reconnecting with your inner child can bring back a sense of joy, wonder, and playfulness into your life. You become more open to experiencing the present moment fully and engaging in activities that bring you happiness and fulfillment.
It’s important to note that healing your inner child is a deeply personal and ongoing process. If you feel that your past experiences are impacting your present well-being, consider seeking support from a mental health professional or engaging in therapeutic practices specifically aimed at inner child healing.”
Not bad for AI, right? I do love playing with ChatGPT – it comes up with things I’d miss!
fancy playing more?
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