Announcement! For the month of July, I will be hosting an Inner Child Challenge as an opportunity for us all to connect with our younger selves.
The first time I learned about inner child work, I was skeptical. I had spent most of my young life longing to be an adult, so why would I want to feel as vulnerable and powerless as a child? What I did not realize at the time is that my inner child is actually quite strong, and I have a lot to learn from her. Not only that, consciously connecting with this part of my personality has helped me heal wounds that were still impacting me as an adult.
What is Inner Child Work?
Inner child work was first introduced to the psychological community way back in the day by Carl Jung. Today, many therapists utilize the concept of the inner child to lead their clients to a more compassionate understanding of themselves. However, you don’t need a therapist to do inner child work.
Your inner child is essentially a part of your subconscious that represents who you once were. Everyone’s inner child comes out at least once in a while. Maybe you’ve felt a sense of abandonment when your partner made a new friend, or thrown a “temper tantrum” over a slight inconvenience. These instances when you react in a more child-like way may feel embarrassing, but they generally point to something that needs your attention. Oftentimes, these moments are really your inner child calling out about an unmet need. Inner child work provides the opportunity to get curious about these responses and address what comes up for you.
Why Get in Touch With Your Inner Child?
To say this has been a difficult year for the collective is an understatement. As we work to dismantle the systems of oppression that have led to years of intergenerational and personal trauma in the midst of a global health crisis and its economic repercussions, it’s more important than ever for us to work on ourselves. Otherwise, we respond to the challenges in front of us as a wounded child, rather than a fully integrated adult.
Doing inner child work can help you:
- Release repressed emotions from childhood
- Identity neglected needs and how to meet them
- Tap into a sense of joy and peace
- Understand yourself on a deeper level
- Become more creative
- Feel more confident
- Break out of negative patterns
- Improve your self-care strategies
- Foster more fulfilling relationships
- Respond rather than react
Whether or not you had a happy childhood, your inner child has a lot to offer you. This powerful little person looked at the world in wonder, found joy in the little things, and found creative ways to cope with the pain and uncertainty of life. Giving your inner child the space they always needed to be heard means that you can address the ways things from your childhood still affect you today.
The Inner Child Challenge: What to Expect
If you’re interested in participating in the challenge, follow me on Instagram and watch for daily prompts. Some days will involve journaling so you may want a notebook and a pen, but otherwise, you don’t need any materials to get started.
To participate:
- Follow me on Instagram to see the daily posts for the month of July.
- Post your insights, share with me privately, or keep it to yourself!
I’m looking forward to working through this with you all! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Ask Ginzo 