The Inner Child

November 28, 2019 / Carlie Whisman

Go to the playground. Find this metaphorical space for reconnection and fill it.

As we grow older, many parts of us change. Our bodies age, our memories grow and fade. We see, we feel, we experience. We become seemingly wiser. But there is a part of us that stays young; a childlike aspect within our unconscious mind known as the inner child.

BUT THERE IS A PART OF US THAT STAYS YOUNG; A CHILDLIKE ASPECT WITHIN OUR UNCONSCIOUS MIND KNOWN AS THE INNER CHILD.

Many schools of therapeutic thought acknowledge the inner child as a sub personality that remains childlike in thinking and emotional reaction despite outward physical aging. This part of us reflects who we were as children; the curiosity, creativity and joy we held as kids, as well as the repressed emotions and unmet needs of our childhood experience.

IN RECONNECTING WITH OUR INNER CHILD, WE EXPERIENCE A REAWAKENING OF OUR UNCONSCIOUS MIND AND AN ENHANCED OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-CARE.

We consciously separate from this part of ourselves as we grow up. Taught that strength and power are exclusive to adults and that knowledge comes with maturity and experience; we disassociate this part of our being. But there is great benefit in acknowledging our inner child. In reconnecting with our inner child, we experience a reawakening of our unconscious mind and an enhanced opportunity for self-care. We facilitate healing when we access all parts of our self, allowing us to recognize old wounds and determine what aspects of our childhood may be holding us back. We encourage the resurgence of our childlike creativity and jubilance.

How do we make this re-connection happen? The answer may seem naive, play. Play is whatever you enjoy doing, whatever makes you feel your most self. Through play, we indulge in our own imaginations. We give freedom to rekindle our original innocence and empathy. We yield the harsh expectations of growing up and acknowledge our most basic humans needs for leisure, engagement and enjoyment.

WE YIELD THE HARSH EXPECTATIONS OF GROWING UP AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR MOST BASIC HUMANS NEEDS FOR LEISURE, ENGAGEMENT AND ENJOYMENT.

Go to the playground. Find this metaphorical space for re connection and fill it. Succumb to your curiosities and explore. Embrace your inner child. We must not abandon them. •

By: Carlie Whisman

Photography: Alyssa Olvera

Models: Tosin & Shelby Scott

Stylist: Megan Arimendera

HMUA: Miriam Ali