IDENTIFYING INNER CHILD WOUNDING
The purpose of this exercise is to understand the root of your reactive emotions, where they are stemming from, how you actually feel. By gaining understanding of your root emotion you are able to heal those deeper layers of inner child wounding.
If you have any questions, head to my free community, Breathe & Thrive, where I can guide you...
The PROCESS
Work through these steps....
Identify and name the emotion you are feeling currently.
This is your original emotion.
When did you feel that emotion as a child?
A memory or story perhaps. I'd recommend a breathwork meditation to surface conscious and subconscious memories, then journal.
Describe the time and place where you felt that way, be very descriptive, where were you, who were you with, how old were you, how did you feel.
A memory may come up that seems insignificant, these are the subconscious imprints that although seem irrelevant are impacting your current day to day.
Go as deep as you can with the memory/story no matter how big or small the story may seem.
Currently, when you reflect on yourself as a child from your adult vantage point how does this story/memory make you feel?
This is your underlying/root emotion
In what areas of your life do you currently feel [underlying emotion]?
How do you mask [insert underlying emotion] with [original emotion]
The HEALING
With your newfound awareness, here are two ways to heal your inner child wounding...
Real time
within your most important relationships
As you notice your original emotion surfacing, start by reflecting on what your body is really telling you, which is your underlying emotion- share that with the person/situation that is present.
I am (insert original emotion) because______________so i am reacting (name your reaction/response to the emotion), but really I am feeling (underlying emotion)
Your acknowledgement and sharing vulnerably, as simple as that may sound, begins to rewire your brain and heal your emotional responses. This also gives the other person the opportunity to understand you on a deeper level and react/respond differently, which begins to rewire your energetic connection to that person. When we get a different response from the people we are in a relationship with, we heal these wounded aspects of ourselves in real time.
*It is important to remember, we can’t change how another will respond, we can only change our responses and how we hold our boundaries, and that in turn will change how we relate in relationship.
Healing through how you relate to your children and parent them
a gentle process
Think back to a time in your childhood where you felt the original emotion.
Journal about the time, place, who was involved, be as detailed as possible.
How did you actually feel? This is the underlying emotion.
When your child brings out the original emotion within you - they will always be one of our biggest mirrors, and triggers.... think about how they may be feeling YOUR underlying emotion.
See yourself in your child and give your child what you desired for comfort and support.
These exercises are even more effective when you use guided meditation or breathwork to begin surfacing your memories. You will find breathworks and meditations inside of Breathe & Thrive.
Deeper healing will begin when you begin releasing emotions attached to the memories.
Read more about my personal experiences with Inner Child Wounding in this very personal blog.
Read My NotesIf you would like to go deeper into healing inner child wounding, I invite you to consider my ELEVATE program
For women who feel called to break free from the patterns of generational trauma that have shaped their lives.
Inside, I have a whole module dedicated to Inner Child Healing.
