Inner Child Work

Inner Child: The inner child represents the emotional and psychological aspects of ourselves that carry the experiences, needs and feelings from our early years. It's often connected to our reactions, dreams and core beliefs formed in childhood.

Child Self: The child self represents who we were during our early years. It includes our authentic personality traits, behaviors and the experiences we had as children. This aspect of ourselves reflects how we interacted with the world and formed our sense of identity during those formative years.

Sometimes it's our inner child that stops us from moving forward with ease. They may carry old wounds, fears or beliefs that get in our way and create barriers to abundance, ease and joy. By connecting with and healing them, we can dissolve these barriers and open ourselves to greater possibilities.

The meditations below encompass both Inner Child and Child Self work, often collectively referred to as Inner Child work. They guide you in reconnecting with your past experiences and emotions.

By addressing and healing unresolved issues from childhood, these practices help to clear blockages to happiness formed during those formative years, allowing you to embrace a more joyful and fulfilling present.

2 Versions of Inner Child Work

Healing meditations involving our inner child and our child self.

© Selva Bayindir

Healing the Inner Child: A Simple Practice

Healing and nurturing the inner child—with compassion and kindness. But how do we do this? How do we listen to it, communicate with it, and heal it? The answer is through a simple practice that helps you connect with your inner child daily.

Here’s what you do:

As soon as you wake up in the morning, before doing anything else, stand in front of the mirror. Look deeply into your own eyes, and without forcing anything, simply say to yourself:

• "I love you. What can I do for you today? What will make you happy?"

Wait for a response. Maybe nothing will come right away, and that’s okay. Don’t let your mind create something just to fill the silence. If nothing comes, simply listen. And if you still don’t hear anything, keep doing it throughout the day. Anytime you see a mirror—while getting dressed, passing by—look into your eyes again and ask:

• "I love you. What can I do today to make you happy?"

Over time, you will notice a shift. Maybe it happens on the first day or maybe after a few days. Inside, you’ll start to feel a playful giggle, or perhaps a sense of happiness from being heard. Sometimes, you may even hear an inner voice that challenges you, saying something like, "Where is this love? You don’t really love me!"

But then, there will also be days when you’ll get a more positive answer. Your inner child might ask you to do something simple like exercise, dance, socialize, have a cup of macchiato or eat some ice cream. Or perhaps it will ask for something small, like a walk on the beach or grounding yourself barefoot in the park. Whatever it asks, do it that day. Don’t put it off.

The more you engage with this practice, you’ll start to develop a deep connection. This happens because the inner child begins to heal as you meet its needs. Often, your inner child is inclined to seek these needs from others—causing you to be caught up in relationships that drain you or hurt you. All of this happens because your inner child is reaching out, not to you, but to others for validation and connection.

So, why not try this? Stand in front of the mirror and say: 

• "I love you. What can I do for you today?"