Parenting our inner child is one of the surest, most effective ways to gain access to our authentic selves.
So, take a moment to consider if you deal with any of the following:
- Repeating negative patterns
- Low self-esteem
- Self sabotage
- Perfectionism
- Unexplained fears and triggers
- Difficulty saying “no” to others
- Struggling to identify and express emotions
If these resonate with you, it’s time to take a look inside to see if you have younger parts of you that are stuck in the past.
As adults, we cover up our child selves by staying busy and taking our lives oh-so-seriously.
But the truth is, your inner child holds the key to unlock boundless joy, creativity, and freedom.
So, if that sounds like something you want, here are the steps to parent your inner child so you can integrate all your parts and show up as the best version of you!
Step 1: Acknowledge Your Inner Child
Any time you find yourself inexplicably triggered without having a clue as to why, it’s likely that a younger part of you has surfaced.
This is called a body memory, and it comes without permission or warning.
During a trigger like this, you’ll actually feel younger as it often comes with a sense of powerlessness or helplessness.
This is because those triggered parts feel the same today as they did in the past, and that is who is in the driver’s seat of your life when your conscious mind is taken over.
So, begin by acknowledging there’s a younger part of you that has surfaced.
Step 2: Get a Picture of Your Inner Child
Next, ask yourself, “how old does this feel?”
Then picture yourself at that age.
Get specific by noticing your inner child’s facial expression, mood, energy, body language, and even the clothes they’re wearing.
Step 3: Listen to Your Inner Child
If you hold up a megaphone to the small voice inside you that’s begging to be heard instead of dismissed, what is it saying?
Remember that as a younger part of you, it’s going to sound young.
It might not even make sense at first.
But it’s crucial to listen to whatever your intuition tells you regardless of how logical it seems.
Step 4: Comfort Your Inner Child
Now, talk to this younger part like you would if they were actually standing before you.
This can bring up a lot of emotion since we’re typically so used to allowing our Inner Critics to put our inner child back in their place.
But talking to your younger self compassionately with love and acceptance provides the space your inner child needs to heal.
So, now that you’ve acknowledged and listened to them, look into their eyes and tell them what they long to hear.
Note: It’s probably going to be what you wished your parent or another adult had said to you at that age.
Step 5: Keep Practicing!
We have a responsibility to parent and care for our little selves because as adults, we’re the only ones who can.
So, this is your mission, should you choose to accept it!
