Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Connecting with your inner child can look different for each person, so it often helps to begin with curiosity rather than trying to force a certain kind of experience.
For some people, it may start by imagining a place from childhood where they felt calm or more themselves, such as a bedroom, backyard, tree, or familiar outdoor space. From there, they may picture the younger version of themselves and begin to notice what that child might have felt, needed, or believed at the time.
For others, connection may come through looking at old photos and paying attention to what they remember about that age. A picture from four, seven, or ten years old may bring up memories, emotions, or an awareness of what life felt like then.
Another place to notice the inner child is during a trigger. When an emotional reaction feels much younger than the present moment, it can help to gently ask, “How old do I feel right now?” That younger part may be connected to old fear, shame, or unmet need that still feels current in the limbic brain, even though time has passed.
Inner child work is not about pretending the past is still happening. It is about recognizing the younger parts of us that may still be carrying it.
This is a throwback to my conversation with Theo Von back in 2024.
Connecting with your inner child can look different for each person, so it often helps to begin with curiosity rather than trying to force a certain kind of experience.
For some people, it may start by imagining a place from childhood where they felt calm or more themselves, such as a bedroom, backyard, tree, or familiar outdoor space. From there, they may picture the younger version of themselves and begin to notice what that child might have felt, needed, or believed at the time.
For others, connection may come through looking at old photos and paying attention to what they remember about that age. A picture from four, seven, or ten years old may bring up memories, emotions, or an awareness of what life felt like then.
Another place to notice the inner child is during a trigger. When an emotional reaction feels much younger than the present moment, it can help to gently ask, “How old do I feel right now?” That younger part may be connected to old fear, shame, or unmet need that still feels current in the limbic brain, even though time has passed.
Inner child work is not about pretending the past is still happening. It is about recognizing the younger parts of us that may still be carrying it.
This is a throwback to my conversation with Theo Von back in 2024.
