Did you know the experiences you had as a child can impact your adulthood? Whether you realize it or not, your younger self (otherwise known as your inner child) can impact your thoughts and behaviors in adulthood. Oftentimes, many people are unaware of their inner child. In this article, you’ll learn more about how to connect with your inner child and heal your inner child if you are struggling with unresolved childhood wounds.
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5 Ways to Connect with Your Inner Child
Acknowledge & Understand Your Inner Child
The first step toward learning how to connect with your inner child is acknowledging you have an inner child, and understanding your inner child. Your inner child does not mean as an adult you act like a child, rather your inner child is how your younger self and experiences as a kid shape your present reality in adulthood.
Therefore, it’s important to set aside time to think about your younger self, meditate, and even engage in fun activities you used to play as a kid to imagine and visualize your younger self. This can help stir up memories and past experiences as a child you may have suppressed or forgotten.
Visualize Talking to Your Younger Self
Consider going to a quiet place, visualize your younger self, and start talking to your younger self. If you are having trouble visualizing your younger self, consider looking at a picture of you as a kid. As you talk with your younger self, try to better understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as the experiences (good and bad) they are going through.
Write a Letter to Your Younger Self
Another way you can connect to your inner child is by writing a letter to your younger self. Your letter can consist of ways you may have grown from childhood to adulthood, or your letter can be more of a journal format of writing out and working through certain childhood wounds that may still be impacting you in adulthood. For instance, if you were abandoned by your parents as a kid and thus struggled to form close relationships with others as an adult, consider forgiving your parents and having your inner child forgive the pain they experienced through being abandoned.
Understand & Try to Heal Childhood Wounds
Unresolved childhood wounds can take a toll on your adult self. Whether it’s struggling to form relationships because you were abandoned as a child, or you struggle to feel worthy of love because as a child you were told you weren’t good enough by someone you trusted, all these instances can take a toll on you into adulthood.
Talk with a Therapist to Connect & Heal Your Inner Child
Consider talking with a therapist to try and connect and heal your inner child. A therapist will help guide you with resources and ways you can connect with your inner child more, and if you are struggling with unresolved childhood wounds, a therapist can help you effectively address and work toward resolving these wounds.
Help Is Available
Now you know more about what your inner child is, and how to connect with your inner child. Your childhood experiences and potential “wounds” you may have faced when you are younger can carry into your adulthood. This is why it is important to not only connect and understand your inner child but also work toward healing any childhood wounds that may be negatively impacting you in your adult life.
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