Reconnecting With Your Inner Child

The inner child is a subconscious part of each individual that holds on to who we were as children. This includes any childhood fears, worries, and/or trauma we experience that continues to impact us as adults.  As we enter adulthood, we become disconnected from our inner child. It is easy to lose this part of us as we become so caught up in the stresses of life. We are constantly worrying about finances, relationships, work…the list goes on. Our inner child is always there in the background, but if it is wounded from childhood experiences, our emotions and decisions in adult life can be negatively impacted which can lead to self-sabotage and emotional reactivity. By learning to reconnect with our inner child, we can work towards releasing childhood traumas and invite more joy and playfulness into our lives. 

Inner child work is aimed at healing past emotional wounds and reconnecting with the authentic self. To engage in inner child work, one must be open to acknowledging and addressing unresolved emotions and experiences from childhood. Inner child work includes acknowledging and interacting with your inner child, visualizing yourself as a child and offering comfort and reassurance, writing a letter to your inner child, meditating, and practicing self-compassion with yourself. Successful reconnection to one’s inner child results in a deeper connection to the authentic self, a greater sense of empowerment, and increased self-esteem. This transformation helps to heal past wounds and develop emotional regulation.

While you work on reconnecting with your inner child, here are some ways to incorporate joy and playfulness into your day:

1. Engage in activities that bring out your playful side such as playing board games, playing sports, or playing hide-and-seek
2. Engage in activities that you enjoyed as a child such as riding a bike, flying a kite, making paper airplanes, or going on a picnic
3. Tap into your creative side through drawing, coloring, or painting

Overall, reconnecting with your inner child can be a transformative and enriching experience that allows individuals to cultivate a deeper, more authentic relationship with themselves while also healing past traumas and emotional well-being.

Amanda Taylor has been a resident of the Lake Norman area since 2001. She graduated from Guilford College in Greensboro with a B.S. in Biology and Health Sciences. After college, Amanda worked for a local nutraceutical/pharmaceutical company as a Chemist, Validation Specialist, and Engineer. After ten years of climbing the corporate ladder, Amanda and her husband, Justin, decided to leave corporate life behind and become local business owners. Amanda is currently the owner of Serenity Now Massage Therapy and a co-owner of Waves Entertainment. Amanda has had an interest in holistic health for many years, but this passion increased after dealing with her own health issues which came to a head at the beginning of 2023. Amanda is a current student in the Health Coaching program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She is excited to discuss the importance of focusing on health and wellness in an effort to help others lead a long, joy-filled, high-quality life.

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