Finding your Inner Child
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/lifestyle/life/finding-your-inner-child-20130719-2q9e2.html
What and who is your Inner Child? Why is it so important
that we take time out from our busy lives to nurture, play and listen to them?
Sonya Leigh is a life coach from Essendon, Melbourne, and
after two decades in the corporate world, she swapped her briefcase for
balance, she says she had ignored her Inner Child for far too long.
"I knew I couldn't bring her (my Inner Child) to work
among the stress and personality differences. After 20 years, I stopped
bargaining with her and began listening to what she wanted and needed,"
reveals Sonya.
As a life coach, she now works with people who are seeking
change, inner-peace and harmony in their lives. "So many of my clients,
have a screaming Inner Child who's desperate to be heard and healed," says
Leigh.
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Her sessions help clients reconnect with their Inner Child
to address past hurts, traumas or needs that haven't been acknowledged, many of
which stem way back to childhood.
She believes many times during our adult life when we feel
hurt or angry, it's often our inner child reacting, "our Inner Child is
about four-five years-old, this is the time when we start to be given rules and
regulations."
"Childhood can be filled with judgment, as opposed to
compassion. In our adult lives we need to reverse that, by releasing any
judgment of our Inner Child and acting more compassionately towards them, this
begins the healing process," says Leigh
Once issues surface and are addressed, albeit years later,
they are then released, "once those old hurts are cleared, the results are
often astounding," says Leigh.
Leigh believes when our Inner Child is happy, it assists
with everything from; creativity, having a fulfilling career, increased
financial prosperity and the ability to create more loving relationships.
Some might say this concept is a bunch of new-age claptrap;
the idea of the Inner Child has actually existed for years in western
psychology.
The Inner Child; aids emotionally troubled adults resolve
their personal struggles. Many mental health professionals consider working
with the Inner Child as a vital step in helping with the psychological growth
and enhancement of an adult's mental health.
Dr Stephen Diamond, clinical and forensic psychologist and
author, says "the inner child is real! Not literally, not physically, but
figuratively, metaphorically real."
Diamond refers to the Inner Child as, "an
extraordinarily powerful psychological or phenomenological reality, related to
the unconscious part of our self."
He says we were all
once children and still have that child dwelling within, "this lack of
conscious relatedness to our own Inner Child is precisely where so many
behavioural, emotional and relationship difficulties stem from."
True adulthood hinges on acknowledging, accepting and taking
responsibility for loving and parenting one's own Inner Child.
"For most adults this never happens. Instead, their
Inner Child has been denied, neglected, disparaged, abandoned or rejected, when
we're told by society to "grow up," explains Diamond.
Life coach Sonya Leigh has some simple tips for anyone
wanting to explore, re-connect or nurture their Inner Child.
Self Love
Loving yourself is the most powerful thing you can do, when
you get up in the morning, take five seconds to really look in the mirror and
say, "I love you".
Journal Writing
This is a powerful tool that puts us in touch with how we're
feeling, what we're wanting and missing in our lives. Just sit and write
whatever comes to mind.
Get Creative
Being creative; instantly connects with your Inner Child,
painting, singing, dancing, photography, cooking, scrapbooking, gardening,
anything that allows you and your Inner Child to imagine, invent and create.
Guided Meditation
There are lots of online meditations available to assist in
re-connecting with your Inner Child. Leigh recommends Louise L Hay or Abraham
Hicks for beginners.
Have Fun
We get so caught up in the stresses of life; we often forget
to simply have fun! Dedicating time each week to doing something fun will keep
you and your Inner Child smiling.