The term “inner child”, created by psychologist Carl Jung (1875-1961) has been helping people heal their inner child for decades.

Our inner child is “a part of your subconscious that has been picking up messages way before it was able to fully process what was going on (mentally and emotionally)” stated by integrativepsych.co. It is the reason why you remember special memories while growing up, the good and the bad. It can recall certain accomplishments or certain trauma. It can help you remember your first time going to Toys R Us, or the first time you got in trouble.

Connecting and working with your inner child can be something very difficult to learn how to navigate through, it isn’t something that can be fixed in a day or so. According to psycheandsomatherapy.com “Inner Child Work is a trauma-informed approach to working with people who have experienced various forms of trauma, abuse, and neglect earlier on in life.” Inner child work is used as a form of healing to reach a deeper connection within yourself, your mental/overall health, and the way you may perceive life.

1. Signs That You May Have a Hurt Inner Child

• Pleasing other people
• Low self-esteem
• Avoiding conflict, no matter the cost of it
• Constantly criticizing yourself
• Trying to be a perfectionist
• Feeling scared or guilty when establishing boundaries
• Scared to express your own emotions
• Experiencing anxiety
• Not being able to let go of certain possessions
• Frequent anger

2. How Do I Heal My Inner Child?

Before healing your inner child you have to be aware of its presence.

• Listen to your inner child
• Write a letter to your inner child
• Meditate to get rid of unwanted emotions
• Forgive yourself
• Relive childhood memories (playing at the park, buying yourself toys, going out for ice cream, etc.)

3. How to Break the Cycle of a Hurt Inner child

A hurt inner child can be passed on from generation to generation and this can be done unintentionally. This can be due to healing that has not occurred. However, the cycle can easily be broken with just a few steps.

• Make sure you are kind to yourself and others
• Teach love and respect to your kids
• Practice gentle parenting
• Make sure you are listening to others
• Make sure you listen and pay attention to your own emotions