A brief introduction to

Your Inner Child

PDF
 Your inner Child
What is it?

There are various descriptions and definitions out

there for the Inner Child or the Child Within.

My personal understanding of the Inner Child is that

it represents that part of us that was wounded in
Childhood.

For some people the wounds incurred were deep

and devastating and for others far less so. It is
believed that regardless of how dysfunctional or
happy our childhood was, some wounds would have
been incurred along the way.

If these wounds have not been healed, then there is

a significant chance that you'll see your Inner Child
acting out in unhelpful ways in your adult life.

Painting used in this pdf created and kindly

provided by Vanessa Guerrero
 how to recognise it?

Some signs that your Inner Child is acting up include:

rage, sulking, moodiness, responses that are out of
proportion to events, intense or overwhelming
emotions, dysfunctional or self-sabotaging
behaviour such as addictions.

If you read that list of signs and could relate, I highly

recommend doing some further research into the
topic of Inner Child healing work. I've listed some
popular books and articles below to get you started.

Inner child work

Inner child work is a process of raising awareness of

your inner child's wounds and needs. It's a process of
reparenting the child within you so that it can move
beyond the suffering s/he is still trapped in.

Inner child work can take a variety of forms. Some

examples include writing a letter to the wounded
child within to provide compassion and
understanding.

Using a photograph of yourself as a child as a means

to reconnected with that wounded part of you.
 What people have said
Charles Whitfield writes in his classic book "Healing
the Child Within"

"The Child Within refers to that part of each of us

which is ultimately alive, energetic, creative and
fulfilled; it is our Real Self—who we truly are.
With our parents' unknowing help and society's
assistance, most of us deny our Inner Child. When
this Child Within is not nurtured or allowed freedom
of expression, a false or co-dependent self emerges.
We begin to live our lives from a victim stance, and
experience difficulties in resolving emotional
traumas. The gradual accumulation of unfinished
mental and emotional business can lead to chronic
anxiety, fear, confusion, emptiness and unhappiness.

Denial of the Child Within and the subsequent

emergence of a false self or negative ego are
particularly common among children and adults who
grew up in troubled families, such as those where
chronic physical or mental illness, rigidity, coldness
or lack of nurturing were common.

Yet, there is a way out. There is a way to discover

and to heal our Child Within and to break free of the
bondage and suffering from relying on our false self.
That is what this book is about."
 What people have said
Thich Nha Hanh in his book "Reconciliation - Healing
the Inner Child says:

"In each of us, there is a young, suffering child. We

have all had times of difficulty as children and many
of us have experienced trauma. To protect and
defend ourselves against future suffering, we often
try to forget those painful times. Every time we're in
touch with the experience of suffering, we believe
we can't bear it, and we stuff our feelings and
memories deep down in our unconscious mind. It
may be that we haven't dared face this child for
many decades.

But just because we may have ignored the child

doesn't mean she or he isn't there. The wounded
child is always there, trying to get our attention...We
want to end our suffering by sending the child to a
deep place inside, and staying as far away as
possible. But running away doesn't end our suffering;
it only prolongs it...

You have to talk to your child several times a day.

Only then can healing take place. Embracing your
child tenderly, you reassure him that you will never
let him down again or leave him unattended."
 Resources
Books
Recovery of Your Inner Child: The Highly Acclaimed
Method for Liberating Your Inner Self by Lucia
Capacchione

The Inner Child Workbook: What to do with your past

when it just won't go away by Cathryn L. Taylor

Healing The Child Within: Discovery and Recovery for

Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families by Charles L.
Whitfield M.D.

Reconciliation: Healing the Inner Child by Thich Nhat

Hanh
Articles
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/09/23
/6-steps-to-help-heal-your-inner-child/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-
deeds/200806/essential-secrets-psychotherapy-
the-inner-child

http://www.mindful.org/healing-the-child-within/