Holding Hands with Your Inner Child

Have you ever felt a whisper from a part of yourself you thought you’d left behind? Or a part of you that you knew …but weirdly felt disconnected to that part?

A sudden urge to run barefoot in the grass, to laugh uncontrollably until your stomach hurt, or a punch of an old, familiar sadness that you can’t quite place…?

That whisper, that urge, that punch, is often the voice of your inner child knocking on the inside waiting to be heard.

This isn’t a literal child who lives inside you, obviously, but it’s the essence of who you were when you first came into this world: the part of you that holds your capacity for wonder, creativity, joy, and vulnerability. It’s the part that remembers your earliest dreams and your deepest hurts. It’s the part that hasn’t been effected by lost friends, abandon, heartbreak, or conditioning.

As we grow up, the world teaches us to be practical, to be productive, to be "adults."

To not be TOO MUCH. To quite ourselves, not act out.

We learn to quiet that voice, to put away our "childish" things, and to build walls around our most tender feelings. We let go of our inner child’s hand, and usually without even realizing it.

In the past I have felt that hand and then poof, its gone…it feels like a ghost.

But WHAT IF we could reach back and take that hand again?

If we could actually hold hands with our inner child daily, we would be practicing an intense act of self-love and healing if we could grasp that hand agiain. Doing this would be a conscious choice to turn inward and tether ourselves with that vulnerable, authentic part of who you are at the core.

But is that truly possible?

Even when shit hits the fan in life and we get crowded with numbness?

Lets start with what holding hands with your inner child means. Because as we get older that metaphor becomes harder and harder to grasp.

Firstly, I see it starting with listening without judgment. Instead of shushing their feelings, you ask, "What are you feeling right now? Why are you scared? What makes you so happy? What makes you so sad?"

And then you simply listen to the answer. You don’t judge the answer, or tell them that they are wrong for feeling this way. Maybe you even ask them what they need. This tends to be build up stuck points for many of us. What does that inner child need? Can we give them what they truly need in the moment?

Secondly, we can offer safety. It's about creating a safe internal space and reassuring that part of you. It's saying, "I'm here now. I'm the adult, and I will protect you. You are allowed to feel whatever you feel."

When I get to this point of needing to offer my inner child safety, sometimes it shows up in the simplest way of sitting on the floor on my yoga mat. This is usually paired with write, crying, or just closing my eyes. But the ground offers me safety.

The third step is to lean into embracing play: It’s giving yourself permission to be spontaneous and joyful, just for the sake of it. To color, to dance in the kitchen, to lay in the grass and watch the clouds. None of this is done as a reward, but because it FEELS good.

This isn't about dwelling in the past. It’s about bringing the wisdom and wholeness of your entire self into the present. By holding hands with your inner child, you don’t become childish; you become more fully yourself. You heal old wounds, unlock creativity you thought was lost, and learn to parent yourself with the unconditional love you've always deserved.

A Simple Practice to Begin:

Find a quiet moment today. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Picture a younger version of yourself. See them clearly. What are they wearing? What does their expression say?

Gently, in your mind, extend your hand to them. See if they take it. You don’t need to say anything at all. Just be with them for a moment, letting them know they are not alone. Let them know you are here.

Want to Go Deeper?

This journey of reconnection is one of the most powerful things we can do for ourselves. If you feel a calling to explore this relationship in a safe and guided space, I invite you to join me.

On Saturday, July 5th, I will be hosting an Inner Child Workshop designed to help you gently take that hand and begin a beautiful conversation. Together, we will use meditation, journaling, and gentle exploration to build a bridge back to your most authentic self.

This work is nurturing, empowering, and profoundly healing. If you’re ready to come home to yourself, I would be honored to guide you through this Inner Child Paint Party.

You deserve to feel whole.

Your inner child has been waiting patiently. It’s time.