Unlocking Inner-Child work: A path to healing & growth
In our own world, the pace of life often feels relentless, and it's easy to lose touch with ourselves, it's easy to overlook the significance of our inner child—the part of us that holds our earliest memories, emotions, and vulnerabilities. Yet, the consequences of neglecting inner-child work can manifest in subtle yet impactful ways, affecting our well-being both in the short and long term.
Short-Term Consequences:
Emotional Turmoil: Ignoring our inner child often leads to a buildup of unprocessed emotions and unresolved conflicts from our past, which end up coming out in ways we don't want with our partners, friends & loved ones - e.g. when a partner says they are out for the day, and you respond “YOU NEVER WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH ME!" - It's often nothing to do with the issue that happened that day, and much more about some unresolved issue in our childhood. The clue is to notice the intensity of the reaction, and if someone else would react the same.
Self-Doubt and Insecurity: When we fail to address the needs of our inner child, we may struggle with feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. These insecurities can undermine our confidence and hinder our ability to pursue our goals and dreams.
Strained Relationships: The unhealed wounds of our inner child can spill over into our interactions with others, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and barriers to intimacy. Without awareness and healing, we risk repeating harmful relationship patterns from our past.
Long-Term Implications:
Persistent Trauma: Neglecting inner-child work allows past traumas to fester beneath the surface, impacting our mental, emotional, and physical well-being over time. Untreated trauma can manifest as chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and even physical ailments, this keeps us in a Cycle of Unresolved Patterns…
Stagnation and Regret: Without addressing the needs and desires of our inner child, we risk living a life that feels unfulfilling and devoid of purpose. Over time, this can lead to a sense of stagnation and regret, as we realise we've missed out on opportunities because we chose to numb & distract, so we tune out of the good as well as the ‘bad’.
OK, so what are the benefits...??
Short-Term Benefits:
Emotional Awareness: It allows us to tap into suppressed emotions and unresolved wounds, so that we can process these feelings and experience immediate relief from emotional burdens. We spend YEARS of energy suppressing emotions that often can be felt in a matter of MINUTES…
Improved Relationships: By recognising how our past experiences influence our present interactions, we can communicate more effectively and empathetically with loved ones.
Long-Term Benefits:
Healing Trauma: Inner-child work provides a platform for healing past traumas. By revisiting childhood experiences with compassion and understanding, we can release deep-seated pain and break free from patterns of self-destructive behevior.
Self-Discovery: It dig's up those deeply buried parts of ourselves which give us the deepest sense of joy connection & fulfilment, to find and follow our PASSIONS IN LIFE!
So how can I ‘do’ Inner-Child work…??
Engage in Creative Activities: Find what makes you feel creative whatever that may be; dancing, painting, drawing, learning, anything that gets the juices flowing!
Revisit Childhood Memories: Take a trip down memory lane by looking through old photo albums, watching childhood movies, or revisiting your favourite childhood places. See what comes up for you and simply breathe with those feelings
Practice Mindfulness and Inner Reflection: Again this is VERY OPEN to what it means for you - what leaves yo feeling calm and clear to be present and reflective? That might be swimming, surfing, watching the kettle boil ;), going for a poop without your phone, anything! haha.. And of course the classics of meditation, journaling, or breathwork.
Play and Have Fun: Embrace your playful side by engaging in activities that bring you joy and laughter, for me its tennis, playing stuck in the mud (that's whats going on in our workshop above), Tag, Surfing, Climbing and so on!
Listen to Your Inner Voice: Listen to your conscience. How old does the inner voice sound?What does your inner child need or want? Listen with empathy and respond with kindness.
Express Yourself Authentically: Allow yourself to express your true thoughts, feelings, and desires without censoring or judging yourself (I know this is a tricky one, but it has incredible rewards I promise!)
Seek Support: Consider working with a therapist or professional that does inner-child work. Professional guidance can provide valuable insights and support as you navigate your inner journey and actually be a lot of fun (like our workshops in London!)
Connect with Nature: Spend time outdoors! Go for a walk, sit by a lake, watch the sunrise or sunset. Nature has a way of nurturing our inner child and grounding us.
Celebrate Your Accomplishments: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Recognise your courage and growth along your journey of reconnecting with your inner child.
Remember, connecting with your inner child is a journey of self-discovery and healing. Be patient and compassionate with yourself as you explore and nurture this essential part of who you are.
Check out our Events Page to see what workshop's we are running now, or come and REWILD yourself on a Rewilding Retreat to deepen your connection to your inner child! :)