Day 7
Quote:
Acknowledging the inner child
"Mother, may I go out to swim?"
"Yes, my darling daughter."
"Hang your clothes on a hickory limb, but don't go near the water." Old nursery rhyme
Since Birth, our child entity has recorded all our feelings, emotions, deprivatios, misunderstanding, hurts and sorrows as well as all our pleasures. Our inner child is the adventurer, the explorer, the mischief maker. It is inventive. It can also be stubborn and disobedient. The child rebels at the tyranny of the shoulds; it wants what it wants when it wants it. Instant gratification is its demand. Long-term goals are anathema to this aspect of ourselves.
For many of us, our inner child has long been silenced. From infancy to adulthood, our programming has been one of stifling conformity; of being forced to behave within the prescribed patterns of our families and our communities.
How often have others told us how we feel. "You don't want to play with that nasty little boy." "You're sorry that you hit your sister." "You always feel better after you take your medicine." In reality, we did want to play with that boy. He was fun! We were not a bit sorry we hit our sister. We would have liked to push her over a cliff. And we hated the medicine. We thought it was yucky, and it made us feel worse than ever.
Now we can recognize that child entity as one to be nurtured, and---within limits---to be granted fulfillment of many of its pleasures.
Today's Step: I cherish the beloved child within. |
Step by Step. Muriel Zink
Although I do not utilize the inner child concept myself, I was able to find some similarities within this passage. I hope you are able to gain something from it to. If you do not agree with the inner child concept then please take what you can use and leave the rest. Thanks.