Reconnecting With Your Inner Child
The warm beige walls of the ketamine clinic seemed to melt away, replaced by an endless field of wildflowers bathed in golden sunlight. There I was, a carefree three-year-old, hand-in-hand with my daughter, Eden, who was also three. We were running, giggling, the embodiment of pure joy. But amidst this idyllic scene, a profound realization struck me: Eden was me. My inner child, eyes wide with wonder, was mirrored in her. It was a revelation that shifted my entire perspective on parenthood, on myself, and on the intricate dance between the past and the present.
This experience cracked open a door within me. It illuminated the ways in which my inner child, wounded and yearning for safety, was unconsciously shaping my interactions with my daughter. I saw how my own childhood experiences – the criticisms, the judgments, the moments of feeling unseen – were influencing my parenting, creating a cycle of inherited pain.
Later, during a breathwork session led by my partner, Ben, another layer of this realization unfolded. Ben had created a beautiful altar, adorned with photographs and meaningful objects. Among them was a picture of me as a little girl, beaming with innocence. Each time I assisted in the session, my eyes would fall upon that photo, and tears would inevitably well up. It was as if that little girl, the one who had been told she was "too loud," "too much," "too heavy," was finally being seen. And in that moment of recognition, I understood that I had been unconsciously perpetuating the very abuse I had endured. I wasn't keeping her safe; I was keeping her trapped in the pain of the past.
These experiences ignited within me a deep desire to heal, not just for myself, but for that little girl within, and for my daughter. They led me on a journey of exploration, seeking tools and practices that could help me mend the wounds of the past and reclaim the joy and wonder that had been buried beneath layers of conditioning.
It's this journey, this exploration of healing and rediscovery, that I invite you to join me on in this blog. Whether you're seeking to heal deep-seated trauma or simply rekindle the spark of joy within, breathwork can be a profound pathway back to wholeness.
What is Inner Child Work?
The core of this work is understanding the inner child. While the term might seem a bit abstract, it's a fundamental concept in many therapeutic approaches. It represents the embodiment of your childhood experiences – the joys, the sorrows, the triumphs, and the setbacks that have shaped who you are today.
Your inner child holds the essence of your younger self – the one who marvelled at the world with wide eyes, felt the sting of a scraped knee, and perhaps experienced the confusion of conflicting emotions. These experiences, both big and small, contribute to the formation of your inner child, influencing your beliefs, behaviours, and emotional patterns.
It's important to remember that everyone has an inner child, regardless of their background. Whether your childhood was filled with laughter or marked by challenges, those early years played a pivotal role in shaping your worldview and how you navigate relationships. Your inner child carries the imprints of those formative experiences, impacting how you respond to stress, form connections, and experience joy.
How Does Breathwork Help Inner Child Work?
Breathwork, in its various forms, offers a profound pathway to connect with your inner child. But when it comes to deep inner work, Conscious Connected Breathwork stands out as a particularly potent approach.
Unlike techniques that involve pauses or holds in the breath, Conscious Connected Breathwork guides you to breathe in a continuous, circular rhythm. This connectedness allows for a deeper dive into your inner landscape, creating a state of expanded awareness where you can access and process emotions and memories held within your subconscious.
The continuous flow of breath creates a current that gently carries you beneath the surface of your everyday thoughts and worries, allowing you to explore the depths of your inner world. It's in these depths that your inner child resides, often hidden beneath layers of conditioning and defence mechanisms.
Conscious Connected Breathwork can help you:
Release suppressed emotions: The continuous breath helps to loosen the grip of held emotions, allowing them to surface and be processed in a safe and supportive environment. This can be particularly helpful for releasing trauma or past hurts that your inner child may be holding onto.
Access forgotten memories: In this state of expanded awareness, memories that have been buried deep within your subconscious can emerge. This can provide valuable insights into the origins of your current patterns and beliefs, allowing you to understand and heal them.
Connect with your authentic self: By releasing old patterns and emotional blockages, Conscious Connected Breathwork helps you to reconnect with your true essence – the playful, joyful, and creative spirit of your inner child.
It's important to note that Conscious Connected Breathwork is a powerful practice, and it's often best experienced with the guidance of a trained facilitator. They can provide a safe and supportive space for your journey, ensuring that you feel comfortable and empowered throughout the process.
While Conscious Connected Breathwork offers a profound entry point into inner child work, there are other breathwork practices that can beautifully complement this journey. Each technique offers a unique flavour, catering to different needs and intentions.
Here are a few to explore:
Playful Breathwork: Remember the unbridled joy of childhood – the laughter, the silliness, the freedom of expression? Playful breathwork invites you to tap back into that energy. Think of making sounds with your breath, like lion's roars or humming bee breaths. These techniques can help release tension, spark creativity, and bring a sense of lightness to your practice.
Breathwork for Releasing Emotions: Sometimes, our inner child is holding onto past hurts, fears, or anger. Breathwork can create a safe space to gently process these emotions. Techniques like sighing breaths or shaking while breathing can help release stuck energy and create a sense of flow.
Visualisation with Breathwork: Our imagination is a powerful tool for connecting with our inner child. By combining breathwork with visualisation, you can create a vivid inner world where you can meet and interact with your inner child. Imagine yourself in a peaceful setting, perhaps a meadow or a beach, and visualise your inner child joining you. As you breathe, offer them words of comfort, support, or playfulness.
Remember, the key is to approach breathwork with a sense of curiosity and experimentation. What resonates with one person may differ for another. Trust your intuition and explore different techniques to discover what feels most nourishing for you and your inner child.
Why Should You Reconnect With Your Inner Child?
Now, let's talk about why this journey of reconnecting with your inner child is so incredibly valuable. It's not just about healing old wounds, although that's certainly a vital part of it. It's also about rediscovering the joy, the wonder, the pure aliveness that you may have lost touch with along the way.
Think back to when you were a child. Remember the feeling of awe as you gazed at the stars, the excitement of a new adventure, the way your imagination could transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. These qualities – the joy, the curiosity, the boundless creativity – are all part of your inner child's essence.
As we grow older, the pressures of life can sometimes dim these inner sparks. We may become bogged down in responsibilities, self-doubt, or limiting beliefs. But by reconnecting with your inner child, you can reignite those flames and experience life with a renewed sense of wonder.
This reconnection can bring about a profound transformation:
Enhanced Creativity: When you tap into the playful energy of your inner child, your creativity blossoms. You may find yourself drawn to new hobbies, expressing yourself more freely, and approaching challenges with a fresh perspective.
Improved Emotional Regulation: By acknowledging and nurturing your inner child's emotions, you can develop greater emotional intelligence. This means you'll be better equipped to navigate life's ups and downs with resilience and self-awareness.
Greater Self-Acceptance: As you embrace your inner child, flaws and all, you cultivate a deeper sense of self-love. You begin to accept yourself fully, just as you are, and this acceptance radiates outwards, impacting your relationships and overall well-being.
Remember, you have the innate capacity to heal and grow. Reconnecting with your inner child is a journey of self-discovery, a homecoming to the most authentic parts of yourself.
Ways to Reconnect With Your Inner Child
Here are a few other practices that can beautifully complement your breathwork journey and help you nurture that playful, joyful inner spark:
Journaling: Grab a notebook and pen, and let your thoughts flow freely. Write a letter to your inner child, expressing your love and support. Ask them what they need, what brings them joy, or what fears they may be holding onto. Journaling can be a powerful way to give your inner child a voice and deepen your understanding of their needs.
Creative Expression: Remember the days of finger painting, building forts, and letting your imagination run wild? Tap back into that creative energy! Engage in activities that spark joy and allow you to express yourself freely. Whether it's painting, dancing, singing, or building something with your hands, these activities can help you reconnect with the playful spontaneity of your inner child.
Spending Time in Nature: Remember the feeling of awe as you explored the woods, built sandcastles on the beach, or gazed at the clouds drifting by? Nature has a magical way of awakening our childlike sense of wonder. Take a walk in the park, hike in the forest, or simply sit by a tree and observe the world around you. Allow yourself to be present, curious, and open to the beauty of the natural world.
Play: When was the last time you truly allowed yourself to play? Play is essential for nurturing our inner child. It helps us release stress, tap into our creativity, and experience the world with a sense of joy and wonder. Engage in activities that bring you pure delight, whether it's playing games, dancing like no one's watching, or simply laughing with loved ones.
Remember, the key is to approach these practices with a sense of openness and curiosity. Allow yourself to be guided by your intuition and explore what resonates most deeply with your inner child. As you cultivate these connections, you'll find yourself rediscovering the joy, the wonder, and the boundless creativity that reside within.
Embrace Your Inner Child Breathwork Course
And for those who crave a more structured approach, there's our very own Embrace Your Inner Child breathwork course. This online journey is designed to guide you step-by-step through the process of reconnecting with your inner child, healing emotional wounds, and cultivating self-love.
Think of it as a dedicated sanctuary for your inner work, where you can dive deep into various breathwork practices, guided meditations, and insightful journaling prompts. It's a space to explore your inner landscape at your own pace, with the support of a carefully crafted curriculum.
Here's a glimpse of what you can expect:
Breathwork Practices: You'll learn and experience a variety of techniques to calm your nervous system, release emotional blocks, and connect with your inner child on a deeper level.
Guided Meditations: Embark on guided visualisations to meet your inner child, create a safe inner sanctuary, and deepen your connection.
Conscious Connected Breathwork: Experience a profound Conscious Connected Breathwork session specifically designed for inner child healing, allowing you to access and process deep-seated emotions.
Journal Prompts: Reflect on your experiences, gain valuable insights, and integrate your learnings with a comprehensive companion journal.
Whether you're new to breathwork or have some experience, this course offers a powerful and accessible pathway to create a more loving and fulfilling relationship with yourself. It's an invitation to embark on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and transformation, guided by the wisdom of your own breath and the loving presence of your inner child.