Connecting with your younger self can be a powerful tool for bringing healing and lightheartedness into your life. Prioritizing our mental health has never been more crucial, encompassing how we care for our bodies, the company we keep, and the thoughts that occupy our minds.
In the monthly Shondaland feature, “A Path to Well-Being,” we delve into science-backed strategies to enhance your understanding and management of your well-being. Remember the days of childhood, when hula-hoops and Hot Wheels were endless joy?
Whether it was climbing trees, riding bikes, or creating skits with dolls and action figures, those memories hold significance.
Even if some memories are tinged with fear due to parental conflicts, embracing the spirit of your younger self can significantly impact your adult well-being. According to Lauren Turner, a licensed clinical social worker based in Los Angeles and the author of “The Athlete’s Guide to Mindfulness,” tapping into your inner child can bring out playfulness, offer comfort, and aid in healing past wounds.
““As an adult, you get to re-parent yourself,” Turner says, “which can allow you to tap into your inner child in healthy ways or find ways to let that inner child heal if they’ve not been taken care of.”
Psychologist Carl Jung coined the term “inner child” about a century ago. His theory was that emotions experienced as a child influence our actions and decisions as we grow up. Research shows that adverse childhood experiences, such as experiencing violence, abuse, neglect, mental health struggles, or substance abuse issues, can seriously impact our physical and mental health as adults. The inner-child construct, however, isn’t scientifically validated, says David Tzall, a Brooklyn, New York-based psychologist. But it can still be useful for building healthier relationships with ourselves and others.
Whether you want to right emotional wrongs from childhood or just bring more lighthearted playfulness to your life, here’s how to get in touch with the wisdom of your inner child.” This is a blog paragraph. Rewrite this paragraph in an easy-to-understand way.
Connect with Others: Tips for Building Meaningful Relationships
Establishing genuine connections with others is a fundamental aspect of leading a fulfilling life. Meaningful relationships contribute to our overall well-being, enriching our days with joy, support, and a sense of belonging.
Whether it’s with family, friends, colleagues, or romantic partners, fostering these relationships takes effort and intention. Here are some tips to help you cultivate and maintain meaningful connections in your life.
Connect with Others: Tips for Building Meaningful Relationships
Establishing genuine connections with others is a fundamental aspect of leading a fulfilling life. Meaningful relationships contribute to our overall well-being, enriching our days with joy, support, and a sense of belonging.
Whether it’s with family, friends, colleagues, or romantic partners, fostering these relationships takes effort and intention. Here are some tips to help you cultivate and maintain meaningful connections in your life.
Be a Compassionate Guardian to Yourself
The concept of self-parenting entails creating the kind of nurturing relationship with yourself that you might have needed from your parents,” Turner suggests. However, this process can be challenging based on the upbringing you had.
For those whose childhood lacked playfulness and happiness, reflect on what you genuinely needed from your parents or caretakers during that time and strive to provide it for yourself now.
“Recognize that perhaps you didn’t experience the type of childhood, upbringing, or level of attachment you desired,” Tzall remarks. But now, as an adult, you have the ability to provide it for yourself or seek it from others.
If your parents were frequently distant or unavailable, prioritize building connections with friends and loved ones. If you longed for structure while your parents were carefree, establish routines that resonate with you.
Alternatively, if your upbringing was overly strict, allow yourself to embrace a sense of rebellion—perhaps take a day off from work and spend it at an amusement park (without broadcasting it on social media, of course).
Connect with a photo of your younger self
Observing your younger self in a photograph can make it easier to connect with and respect your inner child. Find a picture of yourself from your elementary school days, engaged in something you loved, and place it on your desk or set it as your phone’s wallpaper.
A person holding a vintage photograph of a child
Visual cues can trigger memories.
Consider their aspirations and pastime activities. What brought them happiness? And as an adult, what can you do now that they would have cherished? As an example, Turner states, “Perhaps she adored Rainbow Brite and wished to wear her My Little Pony shirt,” and she would have loved a pony ride. So, treat your inner child to a horseback riding experience.
A beneficial side effect of seeing your younger self’s face: it can enhance self-kindness. After all, who could criticize or be mean to that innocent child? Turner points out, “Every individual possesses an inner child that truly desires to have a lot of fun.