Channeling your inner child, a new phrase that might be finding its way across your socials. Your inner child is exactly what it sounds like, the younger version of you. I first came across this concept as I began to dive into spirituality. Reconnecting with your inner child allows individuals to form deeper connections to themselves and also can help people heal from traumatic experiences they faced in the past. Bringing out this inner child as an adult must be done by getting in touch with that younger you to heal wounds we often take no notice of.
Healing is a huge concept behind this idea of channeling your inner child. Many benefits are driven by this such as new forms of confidence, understanding why we respond to certain situations, and discovering new passions and happiness. This can be hard to do. It often brings out emotions that we tend to avoid as humans, yet the outcome of growth is tremendous and truly impactful. There are many ways that one can accomplish this, and I am here to share some I’ve found and heard about.
The first thing is quite simple, you are gonna want to start to incorporate activities from your childhood within the present day. This can be something simple like a trip to the zoo, a visit to grandma’s house, or listening to that song that was constantly on repeat on your MP3 player. This allows us to revisit our childhood memories, allowing emotions to flood over us to find what we truly enjoy. I’ve found that personally being on a playground helps bring out my inner child, something about it allows me to feel like a carefree nine-year-old again.
Also, another way to incorporate this is to allow yourself to do something crazy for yourself, something you haven’t done before as a child. Maybe it’s something your parents never let you do, or you didn’t have enough resources for it, but you are in control now and have the ability to do what makes you truly happy.
When discussing channeling your inner child it often can bring up negative aspects such as toxic relationships, traumatic experiences or negative feelings about oneself. These are all old wounds that must be healed although often overlooked because as a child we don’t always recognize them. These wounds can affect how we think and act in everyday life, for example, people who grew up in houses that negatively reacted to mistakes may be a person who is hard on themselves.
When it comes down to this one major way to bring this inner child out is to heal them first which can be down from talking to someone. Whether it’s a licensed professional or someone you trust dearly just someone you can communicate with without feeling you have to shelter some feelings away. By talking things out we can help uncover the root of problems and find coping mechanisms suitable for you, your inner child is what made you who you are today.
Not everyone is comfortable expressing how they feel to others especially when it comes to such a sensitive topic. I’ve personally found that journaling is an alternative for this and also is extremely beneficial when it comes to channeling your inner child. You can start freely and discuss childhood memories, tell stories, and ask questions or you can get a little more specific and find designated prompts (Pinterest will be your best friend). Writing down how you feel as a perspective from your childhood can increase the relationship you hold with yourself, even improving self-confidence and assertiveness.
Healing your inner child is work that allows one to self-reflect on their past life and experiences, often this is what shapes the person we are today. We can heal and grow exponentially by uncovering this dynamic and bringing your attention to your inner child.