Showing Up for Your Inner Child

ABC of Mental Health

Author

Shiromi Chaturvedi
November 14, 2024

Hello! Welcome to another edition of the ABC of Mental Health, your partner in the journey to better mental health—one newsletter at a time. This week’s theme is all about Learning to Show Up for Your Inner Child, an approach that nurtures self-compassion, heals old wounds, and reconnects you with joy on the occasion of today being Children’s Day in India. There’s an additional resource this week at the end of the newsletter for women with PCOS so do check that out if it could help you/a loved one.

One relevant recommendation:

Bring a Little Playfulness into Your Life: Showing up for your inner child doesn’t always mean deep reflection—it can also be about joy. Try something playful this week: finger painting, a solo dance party, or building a blanket fort. These small, joyful acts remind your inner child that there’s still room for fun, wonder, and curiosity in adult life.

Two quotes on Inner Child Healing and Self-Compassion:

Dr. Nicole LePera, psychologist and author, on the importance of honoring your inner child:
"Our inner child is a collection of all the little parts of us that needed nurturing and love. They need to be seen, they need to be validated, they need to be free to express themselves without judgment."

Kristen Butler, Author, highlights the importance of loving yourself:

"To love yourself as you are is a gift to your inner child; they’ve been waiting for this all along."

Three TherapyShorts from TST

  1. Identifying Your Inner Child’s Needs: Just like any relationship, the one with your inner child requires attention and understanding. Reflect on what you enjoyed or yearned for as a child—whether it was creativity, freedom, or a sense of safety. For instance, if you loved storytelling, try journaling, writing short stories, or reading a children’s book. Meeting these needs, even in small ways, helps build trust and healing within.

  2. Reparenting Yourself: Reparenting is the act of giving yourself what you may not have received as a child. This might mean validating your emotions, setting boundaries, or practicing self-care without guilt. For example, if you often felt unheard growing up, give yourself time each day to acknowledge your feelings without judgment, reinforcing your right to self-expression and care.

  3. Embracing Self-Compassion Over Self-Criticism: Children aren’t hard on themselves the way adults can be, and learning to show compassion instead of criticism is key to inner child work. When you catch yourself in negative self-talk, imagine speaking to yourself the way you’d speak to a young child—with gentleness and understanding. If you make a mistake, remind yourself, “It’s okay—I’m learning.”

A QUESTION?

What activity from your childhood would you love to try again now?

  • Playing a sport or a game

  • Doing something creative

  • Going on an adventure

  • Simply relaxing and daydreaming

Love and light,

The Social Therapist

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