Dear Charlie is an advice column that allows readers to ask Charlie for guidance on how to deal with problems. Whether it’s about love, friendships, or frustrations, Charlie is here to give you tips and ideas for tackling life’s everyday challenges. Readers can ask Charlie for advice through DM via our Instagram @liubknews, or anonymously through this form.
By: CHARLIE
As we’re getting older, we start to realize that our childhoods were not as dream-like as we remember them.
With the help of Tik Tok the idea of connecting with your inner child has been spread virally. Creators on the app have taken to teaching viewers how to spiritually connect with that portion of yourself.
People have begun to realize that inner child healing is important because it allows people to recognize past traumas and understand where certain behavior trends are coming from. Understanding is the first step in the recovery process and inner child healing is a gentle and productive way to access an individual’s pain.
Healthline gives eight steps to start inner child healing:
Acknowledgement.
Listen.
Write a letter.
Meditate.
Journal.
Revisit joy.
Be open.
Reach out.
These tips are a great example of how to start getting in touch with your inner child. Acknowledging how your inner child is hurting, listening to how they’re feeling, and writing a letter stating everything you needed to hear as a child is a great place to start.
Figuring out which of the steps apply specifically to you is key in starting this journey. It’s important to remember that this is your journey and what works for you might not work for others.
Connecting with your inner child doesn’t necessarily need to be spiritual unless you want it to be. I believe that you can connect with your inner child by taking steps as basic as watching your favorite childhood movie or dancing around to songs you loved as a kid.
Do an activity with friends or by yourself that you always wanted to do as a kid, but now there’s no pressure to excel at it. Other ideas include: writing a letter to your parents telling them your honest thoughts about your childhood and what you needed back then and never sending it. You can also throw paint on a canvas and smear it around with your fingers or build a lego set and use it as decoration in your common space.
The possibilities are endless and all it takes is a little creativity. The journey to getting back in touch with your inner child differs from person to person and while it may not be easy, it can be a vital step in feeling like yourself again.
Take care, dear reader, and don’t forget that you are never alone.