My inner child tested me if he would be shamed for making mistakes. I assured him that I will never shame him ever. Cheeky kid did risky trades and lost £15k. I didn't shame him (myself) for that mistake, I told him that "don't worry kid, that is just tuition fee, but no more money for risky trades". The kid, who was not allowed to make any mistakes in his childhood, "was looking at me", and it was something amazing, the first time in his life he was not shamed for his mistake. I don't regret any money which was lost, to stop this kid to feel shamed for learning mistakes. He asked me if I regret. I told him that "I regret only that we didn't do it earlier". I've never seen/felt this kid/me been so happy and hopeful.
Okay so I think you've saved my life literally. I'm 24/7 run by my inner child and only 5 months ago I was kicked out by my parents who shelterd me with no help from them, friends, or family. I'm all on my own with 2 guniea pigs to look after. I cant tell you how many times my car insurance, internet, and even my house rent went a month behind (or even more if its house rent. 2 months) my procrastination is so bad and only today have I found out that the reason why I'm struggling so bad is because of my inner child. Thank you
This meditation was truly profound. I wasn't sure how to feel at the beginning but then I was totally surprised by how I felt, specially when meeting my inner child. Can we have more of these meditations in different scenarios please? it really helps to explore and feel the emotions of the inner child. Thank you Patrick for this special video.
I started crying as soon as I see the little my under the tree. And as a neglected child, she didn’t need much from me. Just my company, and being there in a relaxed and non judging manner.
Cried REALLY hard during this meditation. My inner child was seeing any physical interaction as sexual, so they were really scared. That broke my heart, because I would never take advantage of a kid, and I was upset that that kid felt the need to always be on the look for potential danger, no kid should feel that, ever. I also knew that kid was having little crushes on her female friends at school and also hating themselves for not feeling like a girl, and that realization made me cry too. I wanted to take them to a LGBT friendly home, where those things wouldn't be issues anymore.
This was difficult for me. I had a very hard time at first visualizing my inner child. She was a very vague, hazy figure. Expressionless, and very quiet. I felt anxiety when asking if she needed anything or if I could help her. I almost didn't want to. It was clear I wasn't feeling very loving toward her and I knew she didn't trust adults, so I felt a little awkward asking. She came into a little better focus when I recalled an actual picture of myself in a bright pink floral summer sundress I wore alot around 7 or 8 years old. I found some compassion when I remembered I am compassionate to and love children, so tried to direct that toward her, knowing she needed alot of encouragement. It gave me and her perhaps a little hope. I actually don't ever recall feeling babyish, or childlike. I feel like I was always this grownup child. Not mature, just having to buck up and act, behave older than I was. Painful experience. Maybe I'll try again another time.
Wow! Thank you for this - I usually can't do these guided meditations bc they totally freak me out (the music, the "soothing" voice... it all throws me into an anxiety attack). But how you did this was really nice - your normal voice - mild, almost conversational, not trying to sound like anything different.... Thank you, again; and it would be great if you did more of these!
I get this! As a kid I became distrustful, suspicious, adults were always deciding things about me without my consent (like at doctors office, secret meetings about me at school) and trying to manipulate me and control me into accepting something I didn’t understand, but thought all they needed to do was explain and not be condescending. Treat me with respect. So when something smelt “fishy” I would close down and withdraw and isolate. No one really tried to build trust and connect on a deep level.
I’m crying at midnight. I found your channel the other night and have been watching all of your videos…I’ve been in therapy for a really, really long time, but I never considered working specifically with my child self like this….I’ve always felt so much self loathing. Even as a child. I always hated myself. But now….24 year old me looking at child me….I felt so much love for that child….I wanted to hold them, and protect them…and I don’t even really like kids all that much-to be honest they kinda scare me because I’m so scared I’ll say or do something to scar them for life and now that I’m typing that out….in this context….probably says something about me….I used to want to be a teacher one day but decided against it because in my opinion kids deserve so much better than what I thought I could provide….I never considered how deep that belief might connect with my inner child and how they grew up…. My inner child was surprised to see me this old. I know 24 isn’t that old but, I didn’t think I’d see 18, let alone my mid twenties….I know you’ll probably never see this comment especially since this video is old but, thank you….sincerely….I’m gonna cry for a bit then continue binge watching your content because you’ve been blowing my tiny little mind. 💜🫂
In my visualization, my inner child was very defensive at the "you didn't get what you needed" line. I suspect it's because I've always been my mom's protector and such a line seems aimed at her. I pictured her as very apprehensive about the hand holding. During the part where we were guided to ask if the inner child would go home with us, my inner child was staunchly concerned about taking care of my mom and brother at her home which was apparently different from mine. She agreed to go with me on the stipulation it was for one night (or a limited time frame). She was super surprised when I did the buckling in and picking her up. I sensed loads of distrust of me. Because I know her/me, I know she wouldn't think, in this hypothetical, that any adult is capable of being a good parent or helping more than harming. Interesting exercise. Did I mention I cried the whole way through?
Wow.. this was powerful. When I asked my inner child if she wanted make a new family with me, she said yes, but she didn’t want to make her mom and dad sad or upset. Then she told me she never felt understood or that she belonged or was a part of things. She always felt different and alone. When we walked through the park together hand in hand, I realized the adult me still feels those same things. The feeling of being together with her like a family brought me to tears. I’m not sure I succeeded at being the adult but I did hear what she had to tell me.
This was so wonderful. When you said to ask young me if I wanted to join a new family, immediately I remembered that I had wanted to run away. Of course I wanted to get the hell outta that family.
I started this video with my habitual cynical defensiveness, thinking “okay, l’ll try it but this is so stupid, I mean look at this lame guy and his mushy nonsense.” Literally cried the whole way through. My inner child doesn’t trust me because she doesn’t know how to identify a safe adult or repel an unsafe one. I picked her up from her favourite tree outside her school where she was waiting for my mother - who was often a no show - and she sat in the car in dissociated silence (I suffered with selective mutism as a child). As we drove off, I felt both profoundly relieved and absolutely heartbroken for her. It was incredibly powerful, thank you 🙏🏻💓
I haven’t cried in well over 4 years now. While doing this meditation I came extremely close, the closest I have since the last time. It was extremely powerful. Thank you Patrick
The time went sooo quick. The park didn't work for me so we were on the beach with a tree near the beach.. She didn't want to hold hands or go anywhere so we looked for stones. Maybe she'll build confidence next time. She was frightened, which really surprised me, but it was very helpful to know. It was nice looking for interesting stones with her. It was a very valuable visualisation but went too far too fast for me which is fine, I got to know myself better and just kept at my own pace. Thank you so much Patrick for this great exploration meditation. It's the beginning of a very fruitful journey. Just looking at each other would have been enough for me.
Your description of “you see two cute little feet” made me start bawling. I wanted so bad to be seen as cute and for my mom to spend time with me. It was hard to be the 2nd oldest of 7 kids and never be seen as cute, or seen as a child, when I needed so much to be nurtured. “You’re old enough” and so I was expected to do for myself. I easily pictured myself as an 8yr old. That’s when my parents marriage got really bad and I witnessed a lot of fights. Neither one of them ever checked up on me to see how I was feeling or if I was ok. But I still really loved my mom, even though she was very emotionally neglectful. It was hard to need her and hate her and love her and know I lacked her. I always thought I would “earn” her love “someday.”
I feel like my experience was very unique because my inner child was a teenager (14/15) She was very eager to talk to me and was so happy I held her hand she broke down and started crying. She was so strong and I loved holding her. She accepted me so easily. When we got to the car she looked at me strange when I started to buckle her in lol, but she liked the idea so much it made her tear up again. She liked the car and asked who’s it was. She was so happy when I told her it was ours, our first actually. When I started to drive off I saw littler versions of us in the backseat for a split second and I smiled and waved at them in the rear view mirror. Then my teen self and I turned up the radio and discovered we loved the same music.
Thank you for this. This was very loaded for me. When asked what my inner child needed, my inner child said a hug. My inner child agreed to go because she was sad and lonely but said she'll only go if her brother could come. I had a brother I stuck with and protected my whole life who died last year and his child self also got into the car. This was therapeutic but also very difficult. Thank you.
This was helpful! My inner child was about 8 or 9, and when I asked her if she wanted to come be a new family with me, she asked if she would ever see her family again.
TRANSFORMATIONAL Last night I cried looking at old photos (following this series) And today I ugly ugly cried because I was completely in the inner child mode - she doesn’t trust strangers, her eyes were so shocked and skeptic all of my kindness and I had to alter it a bit because she was freaked out about driving away with this “stranger” but she really wanted to be held. I just held her. That’s our version of driving home. For now. I was trembling with anxiety the past 2 days but now that’s decreased immensely. Imagine 😇 Also I noticed myself (real me who’s meditating) peeking from the meditation because you never know what’ll happen when your eyes are closed and you’re that relaxed.. That also made me cry. And it was so powerful when I fought the urge to open my eyes.
I’ve been doing the 30 day inner child challenge and it’s amazing how quickly that’s helped to build trust with my inner child. In the meditation today, she was eager to see me as I was her- much like with a friendly loving parent. She quickly climbed into my lap and wanted to hold my hand with no prompting. In 7 years of inner child work this dynamic has never happened between us, she’s been mostly anxious avoidant until now. Today was the first experience of no avoiding and instead a mix of secure and anxious- that’s a win in my book! For the challenge I ended up getting a small toy for the inner child and a matching larger toy for the safe loving adult, and I think that’s helping to give my inner child a physical sense of someone to anchor to. So glad to have found your videos. Thank you Patrick
Don't want to be cheesy but the moment I hugged the younger me who sometimes only needed just a hug and some soothing words almost made me cry. This meditation was a really scary and interesting experience at the same time.
Omg this was so PROFOUND! In my meditation, before you even told me what I'd find at the tree, me as a little girl, was peeking around the tree and sort of doing a hide and seek while giggling happily. I instantly knew that was the real me as a child, the one that got lost around age 3 or so. When adult me went around the tree to find the little giggling girl with whom I was instantly in love with, she was terrified and backing away while crying very painful tears. I wasn't really able to just sit quietly with her because once I asked her what she needed and said it's okay, she flew into my arms and started sobbing. I tried to get her to come with me in the car, and she really, really wanted to run away with me, but she was also too terrified to come with me. I'll have to do this a few more times I think, but the profound relief and safety I started to feel inside is very encouraging. Thank you for uploading this. After all these years, I feel like I made a connection again, and something that was once broken is trying to fix itself. Thank you!
Wow so...I wasn’t really sure what to expect during this, I kind of forced myself to do it like a chore, but that really resonated with me in a way I never could have even imagined until now. My introduction to this stuff was today with your playlist and when I was imagining meeting my inner child, out of nowhere with no warning whatsoever I realized I was crying...thank you so much for this
Thank you for offering this meditation. Inviting my inner child to join me to create our own family together was a very healing connection. I appreciate how this meditation offers the inner child an opportunity to choose safety when that wasn’t an option during the lived childhood experience.
I literally thought I was listening to this “in the background on TH-cam” while I worked. When Patrick said to resist the impulse to delay this exercise, I felt I was beginning to have a (low-key) panic attack. This meditation really got me to stop and check in and feel as though I could safely explore all that my body, mind and spirit needed. This is great work, it’s powerful stuff; thank you for this. 💛 P.S. also, it’s fun to remember how I was a REALLY cute kid. So happy. :)
I’m on day 3 of this series after finding your channel and watching a few other videos of yours. Your content is outstanding, I’ve been in therapy for years and your videos have helped me unlock and work through more than those years combined. The work you do is priceless, so thank you for sharing for free!
Thank you for this ❤️❤️❤️ My inner child was an 8yo holding a book. It was more of a forest setting than a park. She was eager for validation and acceptance, "do you like me for me?" was one question. We read her favourite book together. it was a very emotionally healing experience and it also made that inner child vs adult boundary so much clearer for me!
I started listening to this for the past few nights to go to sleep & it’s incredible how fast I drift off to sleep that I don’t even remember the guided imagery/meditation. This is the only meditation that has me deeply at peace so fast it’s incredible
“We” had so much anxiety going into this that I did the body scan as more of a walking-moving meditation but that made me able to sit for the inner child part- so good and imaginative in all the right ways. I am beginning to recognize my traumatized inner child in my anxiety that comes and goes because I have been doing “my homework.” I will be returning to this video many times I know. I noticed I never realized what a compassionate competent parent I am and have been (raised a daughter, worked as a teacher for years) and now turning it toward myself 🙃 Thank you
My inner child just wanted to run around and play and didn’t want to leave with me. I don’t think my inner child trusts my inner adult to provide safety and guidance. I never knew this until this meditation. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us.
The way she sat under that tree in the shade, with her fairy dolls, curly hair and wide hazel eyes. She is so sweet and shy. She let me hold her stuffed bunny and seemed quiet and not used to being given that kind of attention. Getting to the car was the hard part, she was scared of leaving mom behind, even though she wasn't there. The tears started. I told her mom would still be there and she'd be okay. She didn't have to be alone anymore. She was sad to go but still wanted to and I imagined her looking out the window with tears in her eyes. I don't know how to begin to address those feelings but this was a really good introduction. Thank you.
I hope my comment will be seen, even though the video is almost 2 years old. I just saw it today (12.22.22). I’m going through a traumatic experience right now as I’m dealing with an elderly parent’s mental health issues and trying to take care of them (I had a good relationship with them growing up and seeing them suffering now is hurting me). Patrick, I’m so glad that you did the body scan first before the actual inner child work. Everything felt alright as I wiggled or clenched different muscles in my body, until I reached the back of my neck, and that’s when I realized I was holding a lot of tension (due to my current situation). I couldn’t stop crying for the rest of the exercise, and yet I was still able to follow along and do my inner child work. My inner child was extremely happy to see me and needed to hold on to me. I suffer from anxiety and my current family situation is giving me great anxiety, so seeing this in my inner child was not surprising at all. I feel like I was able to acknowledge the hurt both 5 yr old me and adult me are experiencing from my current situation. I have a therapy session later today and will bring up this exercise with my therapist. Thank you Patrick for your lifesaving work.
I'm so relieved that I found this. I was struggling with emotional regulation and felt numb like a zombie. I needed a good cry so I could feel my emotions again, and I think this did it.
That was really nice and interesting! She was pretty sceptical and scared of me though. Like, this stranger coming up to me telling me she is my older self 🙄 eh, ok... Well, whoever you are, I'll decide if you're safe. Not too close, no touching and I'm définitely nót stepping in a car with you!! The moment of looking at the sky together was the best one. That gave her a bit of trust and calm. A first step to trusting. She couldn't come with me, but she did ask me if I was gonna come back. So we made a deal that I would visit her there, in the park, at the tree, where she felt safe. I guess that's not too bad 😏 I'm gonna have to work a bit to get her trust. I'd love some more guided meditations like this. On my own I get so distracted 😐 Thank you.
Its such a great thing to have these free meditations with therapy . For someone who has CEN and with a wife who is in denial that she too has CEN. This helps me a lot. Really it does😊❤❤
Oh my, this was so healing and enlightening ! I saw my little girl in the tree before you even said she was there. Of course she was climbing the tree, we have adhd 😂 I was owerwhelmed by how much I love her, I was not expecting that honestly. She was very curious and in awe of me (which also makes sense, we realized adults are not always right only after we moved pit at 23). She’s so starved for affection she wanted a hug from a person she met just a few minutes ago. So we hugged and we both cried. Of course she wanted to go with me when I told her, she will be loved, noone will be mad at her all the time AND she willl not be forbidden so many things. (We actually asked for a new mom IRL, because as told my mother, who wrote my wish down (!) “you’re aleways mad at me.) She briefely thought about our dad and I believe we will return to that conversation because I think she will want to see him, she just got really excited she will have a new mom. I told her I will try to do my best but nay stunble sometimes, even before the prompt, but I think she is just really excited to have a real home.
This was really powerful for me. I imagined myself to be gangly and shy, and like a shadow, almost see-through with indistinct features. I was sort of moving out from behind the corner of a building. I don’t know how the child answered me because I was overwhelmed with tears at seeing that small creature inside me.
I wouldn't have expected to write another of my infamously lengthy comments so soon after the other one, and again: please bear with me if I struggle to find the right words in your language (maybe take it as a fond letter from abroad ;-) However - this is something like a journey we are on together after all, and I guess this meditation I did yesterday turned out to be another milestone for me, so ... well I'm still a bit baffled about the outcome, and I would be happy to share and to say thank you for this opportunity and for this experience. So ... I'd been pushing the video around on my to-do-list for some time because - honestly - I was quite a bit afraid! To try what you wanted us to do by following your meditation for half an hour and to meet the little girl inside me in ernest (not just look at a photograph of a shy, earnest-looking little 6-year-old, or to imagine how times were back then) ... well this journey you sent us on was a whole different adventure, right? Then some things happened which I really did not expect, which shook me quite a bit. The meditation worked rather well; it was amazingly easy to follow through, almost a disburdening feeling of ... having a spa day for my soul, a long deserved one I'd never been permitting myself to take. Something like that. I found the beautiful park scene and the big tree quite easily and rejoiced in it, and when it was time, the 'little one' actually showed herself, quite shyly - but that was to be expected, wasn't it? Her posture, her demeanor alone were both so heartwrenching and so familiar - shy and sad somehow she looked, not able to look at me directly (rather a bit like Princess Diana when she was still alive, like looking sideways-down). I tried to make contact, to gain her trust, to ask her - very friendly - what I could do for her ... after a while she looked at me a bit more directly as if to verify if she could trust me, I gave her room to react, not expecting anything in particular and then she smiled a bit -------- and started to take off her shiny shoes and immaculate white stockings, loosen her rather severe bun/chignon, whatever it's called (and believe me, I DO remember the procedure I was submitted to to get THAT thing done every morning, and it was not my idea to have it done that way, and it was rather symbolic for a lot of things, like distinguishing me from my classmates, and I'm sure it was meant to do just that, like appearing ... different? A bit elite?) Well - anyway, she pulled out all those hair-pins and stuff, literally threw them on the ground and shook out her hair to look a bit wild, put her bare feet down on the grass a bit tentatively and gave me a half-smile like: 'so ... do YOU accept me this way?' Well of course I did and I told her so and she seemed to be a little disbelieving and a bit happy too. The touching of hands was a little awkward, almost a step too far, but what can you expect - if I am your average Aspie-autist, then SHE definitely is too and has always been (how I remember all the awkward moments at that time which I (she) just could not explain). I'd never believed before, not if you had told me, but she really followed me to my car and felt safe in there. We drove through some heavy weather and both felt comfortable and safe. I spoke to her and promised her that from now on I would do my best to listen to her wishes, to ask her what she really wants to be or to do and to help her to realize some of the things she'd always had to bury deep down. And I swear that I'm not making it all up right now in the process of writing , but that's what i saw and felt right then (!) while following your voice through meditation. Can you imagine how I felt - I did not expect anything like that to happen during a first attempt at trying to bond with that little girl inside me. I felt sort of joyous and at ease, the adult part of me was quite touched, and I was sure to be on the right track. When I went to bed the other night I did something else (you remember - always the Hermione Granger doing a tad more than necessary *lol*) and invited her to sleep safely by my side, feeling sheltered and secure. I can do that easily as soon as my imagination is on operational temperature, so to speak :-) Eventually that night I started to dream. I was in a big, labyrinth-shaped shopping center with many shops, corners, byways (life in general?). I knew I had a little girl, and she was allowed to roam around on her own a bit, but very soon after, she got lost. I looked for her - just to be told by somebody that she'd been abducted by a lower-class, dysfunctional, unkind and uncaring couple who lived in one of the shops and mocked me and told me that they would never give her back because that's how kids should be brought up (!) and that my way of caring for her was just and illusion and ridiculous. Then they vanished and I started to run around desperately looking for them, and for her. People came and offered their help (one of them must have been you). Another couple in a shop (a 1-Dollar-Shop cluttered with all sorts of junk) mocked me loudly for all people to hear: 'What? Do we look like hiding kids? Do you see her anywhere? So?! Maybe just leave it at that, she's just not yours anymore!'. And I yelled at them (must have actually yelled somehow I assume): 'Why are you so mean? Don't you want me to find her? What kind of people ARE you?' Then they grinned and gave me all the belongings of my little girl, threw them at me like, and I put them safely into one of those lockers, to have them secured at least. The story has no happy end yet, in the end I was still looking for her. But who knows? Sorry - a long tale I know, but never ever have I experienced or dreamt something like that. Isn't it just amazing? I'm so curious to find out what comes next. A huge THANK YOU, as before, may all your wishes and blessings come true to you too, and some more heartfelt, kind regards from Germany (little Sabine waves her greetings too :-)
Thank you. You and your work are a gift to me. I'm already 50 years old and just started understanding that what I experienced growing up was emotional abuse and neglect. My inner child thanks you as well.
This triggered me because I was first molested at a park. I was asked if he could hold my hand, hug me, etc. I mentioned that trigger to my therapist today, and now we're going to listen together in her office. I'm looking forward to healing in a safe place with a safe person. Thank you for this.
I like the scanning body in small step, start from toes and slowly up. That's what I and most of victims need to focus on feeling. I agree to ask permission with my inner child. I found out she has little resistance and seems try to avoid my requests - denial that she needs help or not trust me yet. Take time to build. Namaste.
I really needed this. As soon as I asked my child to take my hand I lost it and started balling. He never really had any parental affection and the joy he experienced sent me over the edge.
That was so beautiful. I cried when my inner child cried and hugged me. I have a duty to protect her and take the lead in life. We are family and i can parent her.
This was really helpful. Thank you, Patrick. My inner child (IC) didn't want to go home with me yet, but he was playing with GI Joes when I found him and he did talk with me. :)
I've never cried during a meditation before. This was a first! I still need to cry about how sad and alone my inner child was. She wasn't physically hurt, but you could tell she really wanted someone to care about her and it broke my heart just looking at her. She was weary of me but told me she's really sad and I asked her why. She said because my mom doesn't really love her. I'm BAWLING!!
Yes very helpful Safety and the pic of being in the car and being safe was so helpful. Holding my own hands will help when I am triggered....I am ok. I am safe....I will be ok....thank you Patrick
Extremely eye opening and helpful.Anybody else see their inner child feeling bad for leaving monster parent behind kinda yelling me I didn’t understand them they really are good people and they don’t mean it…
Thank you for this meditation. My inner child was crying and wanted to just hold her while she was crying. Thank you. This helps with therapist I have been seeing since April of last year. Brightest Blessings Trina 💖
My inner child was afraid, but willing. She was craving lots of affection and a caring touch. She looked unkept, you could tell she had been abandoned, poor thing. She felt unworthy to have grown up to be me; she feels she not articulate enough, she feels inferior. Nonetheless, she’d been waiting for me there. I’m so proud of her, how resilient she is, so open to love. I love her so much. She’s my favorite person. By God’s grace, I’ll make sure she knows it everyday. Also, I felt/feel very distant from body. I’m overcoming some body image issues, but didn’t realize I was this far gone. Reconnecting was such a strange attempt. Thanks for giving us these free resources. May your pockets never run dry.
Thank you so much for everything, I made it to 4:17 and just started balling. So much gratitude and love for the work you're doing. I know it's really grounding to me.
My inner child after seeing me asked me if it‘s true that we will have short hair as we always wanted. I think she thought we are actually cool and really ourself in our adult version. It’s been difficult to start to make things I really wanted and liked for my self, even haircut!
Oh my goodness. I have done this before! A long time ago in the 1980s in biofeedback. The recording was funny because it said "your arms may feel like their spinning in space. And this is normal". I spent too much time telling you "please don't say it. Please don't say it". 17 year old in psych hospital after trying to unalive with persistent depression despite the meds of the time. It's wild remembering something from 40 years ago. Thank you Patrick! ❤
That made me all sorts of things, anxiety first, coming face to face with my inner child was hard, but then the tears flowed and I had so much compassion for her 😢. Thanks you for this series, it’s life saving for me right now ❤
Thank you so much Patrick. As soon as I saw the tree, tears started rolling down my cheeks. It was like "wow, what a precious gift she is, little me."I wonder if my parents trully ever felt that way. They said they did but I also don't undertand how parents and adults can be so mean to children, specially if they plannedto have a kiddo. 😢 My native language is not English so it was curious to listen to this meditation and allow myself to talk to my inner child in Spanish. This was so powerful. I have been following your channel for over a year now and I have learnt tons of things. Thank you again!
P.s. your calm pics music, calm confident voice, relaxation and breath work are all spot on for a PTSD kid.....so soothing and helpful. It does take one to know one and thanks for gifting us with your help!
This was awesome. Soon as I saw my inner child i immediately visualised running up and playing with her. I've done a lot of inner child work and I guess this is where I am now and it's good that I'm full of love and joy for her. But this has helped me try to now change that into more of an adult - child relationship. In conversation with her - following the meditation what came out was such a tremendous feeling of sadness. My inner child loves my mum for the most part and loves life in that home which was a lot of fun. Except when my mum would snap and beat the hell out of me over something, and bullying at school - I was 2 yes ahead and not fitting in. So despite wanting to stay with my mum there was an overwhelming sadness over these things. Felt like the first time my 8 yr old self could bring this up knowing they'd be understood over it. So this was profound. Truly. The car ride later was useful too in establishing the 'now yes I've learnt to love you and interact and play with you but now I need to be in the driving seat and established as the adult here'. Such love and warmth. I've been carrying a sadness for days and finally I've rooted it. So thanks..a lot.
Thank you so much for making this video, I just couldn't help but cry once i know i'm going to meet myself under the tree. In the middle of the visualization there's shift in dynamic and i realized that the adult I thought i am had always been my inner child after all. I had lost myself to the gaslighting and brainwashing from my parents and our culture on who I am supposed to be and I realized that even as a 23 year-old i've yet to let my inner child grow up from being "mature" and responsible for my abusive family since I'm still stuck with them. I'm so glad I've stumbled upon your channel during my plan of running away to my boyfriend's very supportive family since my inner child just wouldn't stop worrying about my parents and gaslighting myself for wanting to leave. The inner child still thinks I'm an ass but at least we're in better terms than before and she's starting to understand at least some parts of it.
Thank you for this experience! It was refreshing and gave me some resource. My inner child refused to get in a car or any kind of vehicle because she is carsick. So I remembered that she always wanted to have a horse, and I got her on a horse back instead. And I walked the horse with her on its back through the field and to a small wooden cottage in the countryside, the one she always wanted to live in.
this was so amazing. i have severe anxiety and panic disorder, and this meditation brought me so much peace. i have always been uncomfortable with inner child work. this was a wonderful introduction.
this was a great meditation that I will use more. I was shocked at the emotional response I had walking up to the tree. She refused to come home with me after I asked but after answering more questions she immediately asked to go home. I hope you do more guided meditations or have recommendations. I like how in the book "homecoming" there are multiple ages to welcome the child back home.
Thank you so much for all these videos...putting all the pieces together for me to help explain a lot if places I still get stuck even as a 42 year old now. Thank you Patrick.
Agree with Nikki below. I’m in this for the long haul so more meditations And good parenting lessons would be helpful “- strength training tor the inner adult”! Love that! Thank you Patrick
I think the incompetence feeling comes from the child and the adult still mixed together, so the child feels that "adult stuff" is too much for them (which is true). Maybe you had to grow up too fast. I'd suggest to start with simple, basic things like taking a shower, eating well, sleeping better, etc. It may sound silly, but it's relieving to say to yourself: "You had to take care of this stuff when you didn't have to, I'm the adult now and I'm taking care of both of us". Good luck!
I don't feel capable of doing many things in life, but today I feel like I can protect my inner child in the way she was never protected or taken care of. It's a beginning.
I, my body, burst out in tears when I asked myself if she wants to be my family. Then again when I told her I loved her. Thank you! My inner child is around one year, one and a half years old.
Wow, Patrick that was really powerful. When I speak with my therapist the image of my child is always the same, same clothes etc so that must mean something but never sure what. But again, as powerful as it was & it caught my breath I couldn’t cry. My therapist says that is something I would have learned from childhood ie crying doesn’t get you attention/comfort. My child said they wanted to stay with their family so that was ok & I said I would come back but be there if he needed me. In fact when we looked from the tree to the house i saw my parents and my brother and it did provoke good memories but they were tinged. I’m certainly going to keep this video & revisit regularly. I’m on holiday by myself so each day I’ve been listening to you & working on my mental health. Thank you so much for sharing these 🙏❤️
Thank you so much for this, Patrick. Wow, I usually can’t seem to get into meditations, but this time I forced my self to do it b/c I want so much to heal my inner child. I was very surprised to find that I was able to do it, and that my inner child is very willing to come with my adult self and be safe. I can’t fully express how special this was for both my inner and adult child…I think this is the first time ever that I have been able to connect with little me. I was surprised that I had so much emotion come up during this, but I am glad that I did it and I am looking forward to learning more and healing more and giving my inner child the love and care that she missed out on years ago.
Pre view: Ok I’m ready for this video. I am very interested especially reading the comments. Post view: Oh wow, crying, I am so grateful to you. My psychologist and I are always working on my inner child (angry or vulnerable) and the main one, the demanding, punitive parent mode in which I have to combat all the time.
At first my inner child appeared behind a tree giggling at me and I thought oh they're okay, but as I asked to sit down and started asking questions they got defensive fast and refused help claiming that they could do things themselves. They knew I was them yet they treated me with contempt and said a lot of the same things I remember saying to adults. I tried reassuring them that I didn't have anything against them but they were skeptical the whole time regardless. When I asked them if they wanted to go home with me they answered "I have things I need to do". Thank you for the video! This brought back a lot of issues I've dismissed over the years and I hope I can build trust with my inner child.
Visualization for me was very difficult. But speaking to myself and listening to my inner child really makes me feel connected. I can tell she isn't ready to come home with me yet. But I'll keep showing her that I am ready to show up for her. I'll keep talking to her everyday.
The inner child in my meditation was profoundly sad and looked helpless. She tentatively looked at me when I asked her if she wanted to talk to me, but wasn't 100% sure. When I asked her to hand her hand, I just started crying when she gave it to me and she looked so confused. I didn't imagine her in a car, but rather in a bus, where I put the seatbelt on for her, asked her if she had her water and her sandwich and patted her gently on the head. It was a wonderful short and kind sort of story I told myself and I'm really grateful for this video.
This was interesting. My inner child was very shy and actually hiding behind the tree. But surprisingly very open to me and it was quite comfortable sitting with him. The question of asking him if he wanted to join my family was a bit scary but he said yes quite easily, though still shy. This is great start, very happy for this. Thanks!
I followed your advice in a previous video on having images of me as a child as background/ screensaver on my various devices. That helped somewhat in this visualisation, but I struggled to really get the sense of mini-me. I’ll revisit this particular meditation again and again to open up and connect. It left me feeling very connected with my body. Thank you ❤
A lot of guided meditations have gotten on my nerves really quickly - this one stands out to me as actually really calming. Your voice is nice, I liked the music, and could actually focus on other things than how the voice or music felt uncomfortable
Thank you. It’s a beautiful meditation which helped me realise that I am confused. My inner child was confused what was she upset about and completely lost as if all of that was invalid. And now my adult self here is also confused over it 🙀 send help! Also I have no idea how I looked like at the particular age I tried to imagine my inner child to be. I can’t piece together my own reflection
I cried right away, so I'll come back to it and do it. I'll also look for episodes 1-4. Lastly, I like that you say "good enough", Patrick. You're so good :)
That was so beautiful, Patrick. The whole meditation was enlightening. Your reference to Eckhart really made me more intrigued since I follow him and his teachings, as well. What a fantastic job you did with helping me connect with my inner child which has been the most difficult part for me to accomplish in doing the work you suggest. I purchased John Bradshaw’s “the homecoming” online as an audio book, and in paperback because of your suggestion in your first inner child video (I think.) I’ve done his meditations to connect with my inner child from infancy until “school aged.” That’s where I stopped for some reason like 6 months ago. I was doing all the work that the book required. I just shied away from my inner child and they from me. I have many memory gaps in child and adulthood. That doesn’t help. I recall enough to know I’m not crazy and none of my developmental needs were met and the abuse, neglect, and abandonment were too much for me to handle. Even though I say that I’m not crazy because I didn’t dream or imagine the terrifying, sad experiences I do remember - I think I lost some of my mind as a child due to those frequent occurrences. Something snapped that made me block a lot out. It was obviously a coping mechanism. I do remember more as I do the work involved. Finding my “presence” with Mr. Tolle has also been part of my recovery. I still blocked a lot out as an adult due to my continuing to let my parents abuse me until a few years ago when I cut my entire family on both sides out of my life. It was the best thing I could have done. Their betrayals were and are palpable. I think this all kept me away from wanting to form a bond with my inner child, as well. I really hope you continue to make videos such as this. It really made me feel connected to that child again. As usual, I want to thank you for your sharing of your incredible insight into complex trauma and what’s left in its wake. Also, for saving my life since you were the first channel I came across that explained CPTSD and I finally figured out what was wrong with me after over half of my life was over. Better late than never. I appreciate all you do to support and help us all out here, still suffering.
My inner child tested me if he would be shamed for making mistakes. I assured him that I will never shame him ever. Cheeky kid did risky trades and lost £15k. I didn't shame him (myself) for that mistake, I told him that "don't worry kid, that is just tuition fee, but no more money for risky trades".
The kid, who was not allowed to make any mistakes in his childhood, "was looking at me", and it was something amazing, the first time in his life he was not shamed for his mistake.
I don't regret any money which was lost, to stop this kid to feel shamed for learning mistakes. He asked me if I regret. I told him that "I regret only that we didn't do it earlier". I've never seen/felt this kid/me been so happy and hopeful.
Wow, that's powerful. Helpful image. Thank you
Love, love, love this... ❤️
Ppp
Popp.
I was so happy to see little me. I really missed her. She is so cute and adorable. I love her so much. I can’t wait to see her again.
Cue the ugly cry. That was beautiful and so very meaningful.
Okay so I think you've saved my life literally. I'm 24/7 run by my inner child and only 5 months ago I was kicked out by my parents who shelterd me with no help from them, friends, or family. I'm all on my own with 2 guniea pigs to look after. I cant tell you how many times my car insurance, internet, and even my house rent went a month behind (or even more if its house rent. 2 months) my procrastination is so bad and only today have I found out that the reason why I'm struggling so bad is because of my inner child. Thank you
You are strong. You can do it without their help. Your guinea pigs love you, and so do I.
❤🙏
Hi, please, get back to us, tell is how you are doing right now
Keep on your inner child healing journey.
This meditation was truly profound. I wasn't sure how to feel at the beginning but then I was totally surprised by how I felt, specially when meeting my inner child. Can we have more of these meditations in different scenarios please? it really helps to explore and feel the emotions of the inner child. Thank you Patrick for this special video.
I would love to have a series of these meditations!!!!
I also vote for a series
Same here.
A sleep one would be very,very helpful!
I started crying as soon as I see the little my under the tree. And as a neglected child, she didn’t need much from me. Just my company, and being there in a relaxed and non judging manner.
Cried REALLY hard during this meditation. My inner child was seeing any physical interaction as sexual, so they were really scared. That broke my heart, because I would never take advantage of a kid, and I was upset that that kid felt the need to always be on the look for potential danger, no kid should feel that, ever. I also knew that kid was having little crushes on her female friends at school and also hating themselves for not feeling like a girl, and that realization made me cry too. I wanted to take them to a LGBT friendly home, where those things wouldn't be issues anymore.
Me too
It make me cry too 😢She is too sacred to go with me anywhere 😖
This was difficult for me. I had a very hard time at first visualizing my inner child. She was a very vague, hazy figure. Expressionless, and very quiet. I felt anxiety when asking if she needed anything or if I could help her. I almost didn't want to. It was clear I wasn't feeling very loving toward her and I knew she didn't trust adults, so I felt a little awkward asking. She came into a little better focus when I recalled an actual picture of myself in a bright pink floral summer sundress I wore alot around 7 or 8 years old. I found some compassion when I remembered I am compassionate to and love children, so tried to direct that toward her, knowing she needed alot of encouragement. It gave me and her perhaps a little hope.
I actually don't ever recall feeling babyish, or childlike. I feel like I was always this grownup child. Not mature, just having to buck up and act, behave older than I was. Painful experience. Maybe I'll try again another time.
I was so surprised at how receptive my little girl was. I didnt think she'd be open to me, but she was Starving for me. She needed this!
Wow! Thank you for this - I usually can't do these guided meditations bc they totally freak me out (the music, the "soothing" voice... it all throws me into an anxiety attack). But how you did this was really nice - your normal voice - mild, almost conversational, not trying to sound like anything different.... Thank you, again; and it would be great if you did more of these!
I get this! As a kid I became distrustful, suspicious, adults were always deciding things about me without my consent (like at doctors office, secret meetings about me at school) and trying to manipulate me and control me into accepting something I didn’t understand, but thought all they needed to do was explain and not be condescending. Treat me with respect. So when something smelt “fishy” I would close down and withdraw and isolate. No one really tried to build trust and connect on a deep level.
I’m crying at midnight. I found your channel the other night and have been watching all of your videos…I’ve been in therapy for a really, really long time, but I never considered working specifically with my child self like this….I’ve always felt so much self loathing. Even as a child. I always hated myself. But now….24 year old me looking at child me….I felt so much love for that child….I wanted to hold them, and protect them…and I don’t even really like kids all that much-to be honest they kinda scare me because I’m so scared I’ll say or do something to scar them for life and now that I’m typing that out….in this context….probably says something about me….I used to want to be a teacher one day but decided against it because in my opinion kids deserve so much better than what I thought I could provide….I never considered how deep that belief might connect with my inner child and how they grew up…. My inner child was surprised to see me this old. I know 24 isn’t that old but, I didn’t think I’d see 18, let alone my mid twenties….I know you’ll probably never see this comment especially since this video is old but, thank you….sincerely….I’m gonna cry for a bit then continue binge watching your content because you’ve been blowing my tiny little mind. 💜🫂
In my visualization, my inner child was very defensive at the "you didn't get what you needed" line. I suspect it's because I've always been my mom's protector and such a line seems aimed at her.
I pictured her as very apprehensive about the hand holding.
During the part where we were guided to ask if the inner child would go home with us, my inner child was staunchly concerned about taking care of my mom and brother at her home which was apparently different from mine. She agreed to go with me on the stipulation it was for one night (or a limited time frame).
She was super surprised when I did the buckling in and picking her up. I sensed loads of distrust of me. Because I know her/me, I know she wouldn't think, in this hypothetical, that any adult is capable of being a good parent or helping more than harming.
Interesting exercise. Did I mention I cried the whole way through?
I experienced exactly this scenario
me too
Wow.. this was powerful. When I asked my inner child if she wanted make a new family with me, she said yes, but she didn’t want to make her mom and dad sad or upset. Then she told me she never felt understood or that she belonged or was a part of things. She always felt different and alone. When we walked through the park together hand in hand, I realized the adult me still feels those same things. The feeling of being together with her like a family brought me to tears. I’m not sure I succeeded at being the adult but I did hear what she had to tell me.
This was so wonderful. When you said to ask young me if I wanted to join a new family, immediately I remembered that I had wanted to run away. Of course I wanted to get the hell outta that family.
I started this video with my habitual cynical defensiveness, thinking “okay, l’ll try it but this is so stupid, I mean look at this lame guy and his mushy nonsense.” Literally cried the whole way through. My inner child doesn’t trust me because she doesn’t know how to identify a safe adult or repel an unsafe one. I picked her up from her favourite tree outside her school where she was waiting for my mother - who was often a no show - and she sat in the car in dissociated silence (I suffered with selective mutism as a child). As we drove off, I felt both profoundly relieved and absolutely heartbroken for her. It was incredibly powerful, thank you 🙏🏻💓
I haven’t cried in well over 4 years now. While doing this meditation I came extremely close, the closest I have since the last time. It was extremely powerful. Thank you Patrick
The feeling of safety and acceptance made me cry. Thank you.💜
The time went sooo quick. The park didn't work for me so we were on the beach with a tree near the beach.. She didn't want to hold hands or go anywhere so we looked for stones. Maybe she'll build confidence next time. She was frightened, which really surprised me, but it was very helpful to know. It was nice looking for interesting stones with her. It was a very valuable visualisation but went too far too fast for me which is fine, I got to know myself better and just kept at my own pace. Thank you so much Patrick for this great exploration meditation. It's the beginning of a very fruitful journey. Just looking at each other would have been enough for me.
Same for me. I couldn't ask her anything yet, but being a friendly presence was a good start, I think. Untill she (and I) is ready 💝
I felt the same. He didn't even want to look at me
I’m 51 and crying like a baby. This was much needed. She was sad, but happy to meet a new friend. I made her smile 😊
Your description of “you see two cute little feet” made me start bawling. I wanted so bad to be seen as cute and for my mom to spend time with me. It was hard to be the 2nd oldest of 7 kids and never be seen as cute, or seen as a child, when I needed so much to be nurtured. “You’re old enough” and so I was expected to do for myself. I easily pictured myself as an 8yr old. That’s when my parents marriage got really bad and I witnessed a lot of fights. Neither one of them ever checked up on me to see how I was feeling or if I was ok. But I still really loved my mom, even though she was very emotionally neglectful. It was hard to need her and hate her and love her and know I lacked her. I always thought I would “earn” her love “someday.”
I feel like my experience was very unique because my inner child was a teenager (14/15) She was very eager to talk to me and was so happy I held her hand she broke down and started crying. She was so strong and I loved holding her. She accepted me so easily. When we got to the car she looked at me strange when I started to buckle her in lol, but she liked the idea so much it made her tear up again. She liked the car and asked who’s it was. She was so happy when I told her it was ours, our first actually. When I started to drive off I saw littler versions of us in the backseat for a split second and I smiled and waved at them in the rear view mirror. Then my teen self and I turned up the radio and discovered we loved the same music.
Thank you for this. This was very loaded for me. When asked what my inner child needed, my inner child said a hug. My inner child agreed to go because she was sad and lonely but said she'll only go if her brother could come. I had a brother I stuck with and protected my whole life who died last year and his child self also got into the car. This was therapeutic but also very difficult. Thank you.
This was helpful! My inner child was about 8 or 9, and when I asked her if she wanted to come be a new family with me, she asked if she would ever see her family again.
I can relate. Mine asked if I could have both families and if I could change my mind whenever I want. That grown child still lives on fences. 😾
Me too.
TRANSFORMATIONAL
Last night I cried looking at old photos (following this series)
And today I ugly ugly cried because I was completely in the inner child mode - she doesn’t trust strangers, her eyes were so shocked and skeptic all of my kindness and I had to alter it a bit because she was freaked out about driving away with this “stranger” but she really wanted to be held.
I just held her. That’s our version of driving home.
For now.
I was trembling with anxiety the past 2 days but now that’s decreased immensely. Imagine 😇
Also I noticed myself (real me who’s meditating) peeking from the meditation because you never know what’ll happen when your eyes are closed and you’re that relaxed.. That also made me cry. And it was so powerful when I fought the urge to open my eyes.
I’ve been doing the 30 day inner child challenge and it’s amazing how quickly that’s helped to build trust with my inner child.
In the meditation today, she was eager to see me as I was her- much like with a friendly loving parent. She quickly climbed into my lap and wanted to hold my hand with no prompting.
In 7 years of inner child work this dynamic has never happened between us, she’s been mostly anxious avoidant until now. Today was the first experience of no avoiding and instead a mix of secure and anxious- that’s a win in my book!
For the challenge I ended up getting a small toy for the inner child and a matching larger toy for the safe loving adult, and I think that’s helping to give my inner child a physical sense of someone to anchor to. So glad to have found your videos. Thank you Patrick
Don't want to be cheesy but the moment I hugged the younger me who sometimes only needed just a hug and some soothing words almost made me cry. This meditation was a really scary and interesting experience at the same time.
Omg this was so PROFOUND! In my meditation, before you even told me what I'd find at the tree, me as a little girl, was peeking around the tree and sort of doing a hide and seek while giggling happily. I instantly knew that was the real me as a child, the one that got lost around age 3 or so. When adult me went around the tree to find the little giggling girl with whom I was instantly in love with, she was terrified and backing away while crying very painful tears. I wasn't really able to just sit quietly with her because once I asked her what she needed and said it's okay, she flew into my arms and started sobbing. I tried to get her to come with me in the car, and she really, really wanted to run away with me, but she was also too terrified to come with me. I'll have to do this a few more times I think, but the profound relief and safety I started to feel inside is very encouraging. Thank you for uploading this. After all these years, I feel like I made a connection again, and something that was once broken is trying to fix itself. Thank you!
Wow so...I wasn’t really sure what to expect during this, I kind of forced myself to do it like a chore, but that really resonated with me in a way I never could have even imagined until now. My introduction to this stuff was today with your playlist and when I was imagining meeting my inner child, out of nowhere with no warning whatsoever I realized I was crying...thank you so much for this
Thank you for offering this meditation. Inviting my inner child to join me to create our own family together was a very healing connection. I appreciate how this meditation offers the inner child an opportunity to choose safety when that wasn’t an option during the lived childhood experience.
I literally thought I was listening to this “in the background on TH-cam” while I worked. When Patrick said to resist the impulse to delay this exercise, I felt I was beginning to have a (low-key) panic attack.
This meditation really got me to stop and check in and feel as though I could safely explore all that my body, mind and spirit needed.
This is great work, it’s powerful stuff; thank you for this. 💛
P.S. also, it’s fun to remember how I was a REALLY cute kid. So happy.
:)
I’m on day 3 of this series after finding your channel and watching a few other videos of yours. Your content is outstanding, I’ve been in therapy for years and your videos have helped me unlock and work through more than those years combined. The work you do is priceless, so thank you for sharing for free!
Thank you for this ❤️❤️❤️ My inner child was an 8yo holding a book. It was more of a forest setting than a park. She was eager for validation and acceptance, "do you like me for me?" was one question. We read her favourite book together. it was a very emotionally healing experience and it also made that inner child vs adult boundary so much clearer for me!
I started listening to this for the past few nights to go to sleep & it’s incredible how fast I drift off to sleep that I don’t even remember the guided imagery/meditation. This is the only meditation that has me deeply at peace so fast it’s incredible
“We” had so much anxiety going into this that I did the body scan as more of a walking-moving meditation but that made me able to sit for the inner child part- so good and imaginative in all the right ways. I am beginning to recognize my traumatized inner child in my anxiety that comes and goes because I have been doing “my homework.” I will be returning to this video many times I know. I noticed I never realized what a compassionate competent parent I am and have been (raised a daughter, worked as a teacher for years) and now turning it toward myself 🙃 Thank you
My inner child just wanted to run around and play and didn’t want to leave with me. I don’t think my inner child trusts my inner adult to provide safety and guidance. I never knew this until this meditation. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us.
The way she sat under that tree in the shade, with her fairy dolls, curly hair and wide hazel eyes. She is so sweet and shy. She let me hold her stuffed bunny and seemed quiet and not used to being given that kind of attention. Getting to the car was the hard part, she was scared of leaving mom behind, even though she wasn't there. The tears started. I told her mom would still be there and she'd be okay. She didn't have to be alone anymore. She was sad to go but still wanted to and I imagined her looking out the window with tears in her eyes. I don't know how to begin to address those feelings but this was a really good introduction. Thank you.
I hope my comment will be seen, even though the video is almost 2 years old. I just saw it today (12.22.22). I’m going through a traumatic experience right now as I’m dealing with an elderly parent’s mental health issues and trying to take care of them (I had a good relationship with them growing up and seeing them suffering now is hurting me). Patrick, I’m so glad that you did the body scan first before the actual inner child work. Everything felt alright as I wiggled or clenched different muscles in my body, until I reached the back of my neck, and that’s when I realized I was holding a lot of tension (due to my current situation). I couldn’t stop crying for the rest of the exercise, and yet I was still able to follow along and do my inner child work. My inner child was extremely happy to see me and needed to hold on to me. I suffer from anxiety and my current family situation is giving me great anxiety, so seeing this in my inner child was not surprising at all.
I feel like I was able to acknowledge the hurt both 5 yr old me and adult me are experiencing from my current situation. I have a therapy session later today and will bring up this exercise with my therapist. Thank you Patrick for your lifesaving work.
So, how are you today? I hope it really helped you and you are well and safe. 🙋♀️
I'm so relieved that I found this. I was struggling with emotional regulation and felt numb like a zombie. I needed a good cry so I could feel my emotions again, and I think this did it.
Dear Patrick, you are a truely life saver. Thank you very much. From Spain ❤
That was really nice and interesting! She was pretty sceptical and scared of me though. Like, this stranger coming up to me telling me she is my older self 🙄 eh, ok... Well, whoever you are, I'll decide if you're safe. Not too close, no touching and I'm définitely nót stepping in a car with you!!
The moment of looking at the sky together was the best one. That gave her a bit of trust and calm. A first step to trusting.
She couldn't come with me, but she did ask me if I was gonna come back. So we made a deal that I would visit her there, in the park, at the tree, where she felt safe. I guess that's not too bad 😏 I'm gonna have to work a bit to get her trust.
I'd love some more guided meditations like this. On my own I get so distracted 😐
Thank you.
Its such a great thing to have these free meditations with therapy . For someone who has CEN and with a wife who is in denial that she too has CEN. This helps me a lot.
Really it does😊❤❤
Oh my, this was so healing and enlightening ! I saw my little girl in the tree before you even said she was there. Of course she was climbing the tree, we have adhd 😂 I was owerwhelmed by how much I love her, I was not expecting that honestly. She was very curious and in awe of me (which also makes sense, we realized adults are not always right only after we moved pit at 23). She’s so starved for affection she wanted a hug from a person she met just a few minutes ago. So we hugged and we both cried. Of course she wanted to go with me when I told her, she will be loved, noone will be mad at her all the time AND she willl not be forbidden so many things. (We actually asked for a new mom IRL, because as told my mother, who wrote my wish down (!) “you’re aleways mad at me.) She briefely thought about our dad and I believe we will return to that conversation because I think she will want to see him, she just got really excited she will have a new mom. I told her I will try to do my best but nay stunble sometimes, even before the prompt, but I think she is just really excited to have a real home.
This was really powerful for me. I imagined myself to be gangly and shy, and like a shadow, almost see-through with indistinct features. I was sort of moving out from behind the corner of a building. I don’t know how the child answered me because I was overwhelmed with tears at seeing that small creature inside me.
I didn't expect it to be so moving. When I sat down next to her and told her who I was, I just broke down, instantly sobbing. Thank you.
I love this meditation. I was able to feel the same love I have for my son for my inner child. Bless you and thank you Patrick
I wouldn't have expected to write another of my infamously lengthy comments so soon after the other one, and again: please bear with me if I struggle to find the right words in your language (maybe take it as a fond letter from abroad ;-)
However - this is something like a journey we are on together after all, and I guess this meditation I did yesterday turned out to be another milestone for me, so ... well I'm still a bit baffled about the outcome, and I would be happy to share and to say thank you for this opportunity and for this experience. So ... I'd been pushing the video around on my to-do-list for some time because - honestly - I was quite a bit afraid! To try what you wanted us to do by following your meditation for half an hour and to meet the little girl inside me in ernest (not just look at a photograph of a shy, earnest-looking little 6-year-old, or to imagine how times were back then) ... well this journey you sent us on was a whole different adventure, right?
Then some things happened which I really did not expect, which shook me quite a bit. The meditation worked rather well; it was amazingly easy to follow through, almost a disburdening feeling of ... having a spa day for my soul, a long deserved one I'd never been permitting myself to take. Something like that. I found the beautiful park scene and the big tree quite easily and rejoiced in it, and when it was time, the 'little one' actually showed herself, quite shyly - but that was to be expected, wasn't it? Her posture, her demeanor alone were both so heartwrenching and so familiar - shy and sad somehow she looked, not able to look at me directly (rather a bit like Princess Diana when she was still alive, like looking sideways-down). I tried to make contact, to gain her trust, to ask her - very friendly - what I could do for her ... after a while she looked at me a bit more directly as if to verify if she could trust me, I gave her room to react, not expecting anything in particular and then she smiled a bit -------- and started to take off her shiny shoes and immaculate white stockings, loosen her rather severe bun/chignon, whatever it's called (and believe me, I DO remember the procedure I was submitted to to get THAT thing done every morning, and it was not my idea to have it done that way, and it was rather symbolic for a lot of things, like distinguishing me from my classmates, and I'm sure it was meant to do just that, like appearing ... different? A bit elite?)
Well - anyway, she pulled out all those hair-pins and stuff, literally threw them on the ground and shook out her hair to look a bit wild, put her bare feet down on the grass a bit tentatively and gave me a half-smile like: 'so ... do YOU accept me this way?'
Well of course I did and I told her so and she seemed to be a little disbelieving and a bit happy too.
The touching of hands was a little awkward, almost a step too far, but what can you expect - if I am your average Aspie-autist, then SHE definitely is too and has always been (how I remember all the awkward moments at that time which I (she) just could not explain). I'd never believed before, not if you had told me, but she really followed me to my car and felt safe in there. We drove through some heavy weather and both felt comfortable and safe. I spoke to her and promised her that from now on I would do my best to listen to her wishes, to ask her what she really wants to be or to do and to help her to realize some of the things she'd always had to bury deep down. And I swear that I'm not making it all up right now in the process of writing , but that's what i saw and felt right then (!) while following your voice through meditation. Can you imagine how I felt - I did not expect anything like that to happen during a first attempt at trying to bond with that little girl inside me. I felt sort of joyous and at ease, the adult part of me was quite touched, and I was sure to be on the right track.
When I went to bed the other night I did something else (you remember - always the Hermione Granger doing a tad more than necessary *lol*) and invited her to sleep safely by my side, feeling sheltered and secure. I can do that easily as soon as my imagination is on operational temperature, so to speak :-)
Eventually that night I started to dream. I was in a big, labyrinth-shaped shopping center with many shops, corners, byways (life in general?). I knew I had a little girl, and she was allowed to roam around on her own a bit, but very soon after, she got lost. I looked for her - just to be told by somebody that she'd been abducted by a lower-class, dysfunctional, unkind and uncaring couple who lived in one of the shops and mocked me and told me that they would never give her back because that's how kids should be brought up (!) and that my way of caring for her was just and illusion and ridiculous. Then they vanished and I started to run around desperately looking for them, and for her. People came and offered their help (one of them must have been you). Another couple in a shop (a 1-Dollar-Shop cluttered with all sorts of junk) mocked me loudly for all people to hear: 'What? Do we look like hiding kids? Do you see her anywhere? So?! Maybe just leave it at that, she's just not yours anymore!'.
And I yelled at them (must have actually yelled somehow I assume): 'Why are you so mean? Don't you want me to find her? What kind of people ARE you?'
Then they grinned and gave me all the belongings of my little girl, threw them at me like, and I put them safely into one of those lockers, to have them secured at least.
The story has no happy end yet, in the end I was still looking for her. But who knows?
Sorry - a long tale I know, but never ever have I experienced or dreamt something like that. Isn't it just amazing?
I'm so curious to find out what comes next.
A huge THANK YOU, as before, may all your wishes and blessings come true to you too, and some more heartfelt, kind regards from Germany
(little Sabine waves her greetings too :-)
Thank you. You and your work are a gift to me. I'm already 50 years old and just started understanding that what I experienced growing up was emotional abuse and neglect. My inner child thanks you as well.
This triggered me because I was first molested at a park. I was asked if he could hold my hand, hug me, etc. I mentioned that trigger to my therapist today, and now we're going to listen together in her office. I'm looking forward to healing in a safe place with a safe person. Thank you for this.
Thank you Patrick. This is wonderful. Thank you for the effort to make this and for making it available to everyone who can benefit from it.
I like the scanning body in small step, start from toes and slowly up. That's what I and most of victims need to focus on feeling. I agree to ask permission with my inner child. I found out she has little resistance and seems try to avoid my requests - denial that she needs help or not trust me yet. Take time to build. Namaste.
I've done quite a bit of yoga and guided meditation, but nothing like this. This was really different, in a good way. Thank you~
I really needed this. As soon as I asked my child to take my hand I lost it and started balling. He never really had any parental affection and the joy he experienced sent me over the edge.
That was so beautiful. I cried when my inner child cried and hugged me. I have a duty to protect her and take the lead in life. We are family and i can parent her.
Very nice Patrick. I added my white noise machine sound of birds singing. Lovely. Very soothing. I really like the old tree.
This was really helpful. Thank you, Patrick. My inner child (IC) didn't want to go home with me yet, but he was playing with GI Joes when I found him and he did talk with me. :)
I've never cried during a meditation before. This was a first! I still need to cry about how sad and alone my inner child was. She wasn't physically hurt, but you could tell she really wanted someone to care about her and it broke my heart just looking at her. She was weary of me but told me she's really sad and I asked her why. She said because my mom doesn't really love her. I'm BAWLING!!
Yes very helpful
Safety and the pic of being in the car and being safe was so helpful. Holding my own hands will help when I am triggered....I am ok. I am safe....I will be ok....thank you Patrick
Extremely eye opening and helpful.Anybody else see their inner child feeling bad for leaving monster parent behind kinda yelling me I didn’t understand them they really are good people and they don’t mean it…
Thank you for this meditation. My inner child was crying and wanted to just hold her while she was crying. Thank you. This helps with therapist I have been seeing since April of last year. Brightest Blessings Trina 💖
My inner child was afraid, but willing. She was craving lots of affection and a caring touch. She looked unkept, you could tell she had been abandoned, poor thing. She felt unworthy to have grown up to be me; she feels she not articulate enough, she feels inferior. Nonetheless, she’d been waiting for me there. I’m so proud of her, how resilient she is, so open to love. I love her so much. She’s my favorite person. By God’s grace, I’ll make sure she knows it everyday.
Also, I felt/feel very distant from body. I’m overcoming some body image issues, but didn’t realize I was this far gone. Reconnecting was such a strange attempt.
Thanks for giving us these free resources. May your pockets never run dry.
Thank you so much for everything, I made it to 4:17 and just started balling. So much gratitude and love for the work you're doing. I know it's really grounding to me.
My inner child after seeing me asked me if it‘s true that we will have short hair as we always wanted. I think she thought we are actually cool and really ourself in our adult version. It’s been difficult to start to make things I really wanted and liked for my self, even haircut!
Oh my goodness. I have done this before! A long time ago in the 1980s in biofeedback. The recording was funny because it said "your arms may feel like their spinning in space. And this is normal". I spent too much time telling you "please don't say it. Please don't say it". 17 year old in psych hospital after trying to unalive with persistent depression despite the meds of the time.
It's wild remembering something from 40 years ago. Thank you Patrick! ❤
I loved it, thank you Patrick. The minute I imagined little me I started crying
That made me all sorts of things, anxiety first, coming face to face with my inner child was hard, but then the tears flowed and I had so much compassion for her 😢. Thanks you for this series, it’s life saving for me right now ❤
Such a deeply healing experience. The safety belt is so powerful. Thank you.
Ok.... I couldnt stop crying trying to do this. I guess i have a lot of work to do on myself!!! Thank you for being the light. I feel hopeful 💙💙💙
Thank you so much Patrick. As soon as I saw the tree, tears started rolling down my cheeks. It was like "wow, what a precious gift she is, little me."I wonder if my parents trully ever felt that way. They said they did but I also don't undertand how parents and adults can be so mean to children, specially if they plannedto have a kiddo. 😢
My native language is not English so it was curious to listen to this meditation and allow myself to talk to my inner child in Spanish. This was so powerful. I have been following your channel for over a year now and I have learnt tons of things. Thank you again!
P.s. your calm pics music, calm confident voice, relaxation and breath work are all spot on for a PTSD kid.....so soothing and helpful. It does take one to know one and thanks for gifting us with your help!
Thank you Patrick. Your guided med deeply resonated with me.
My inner child met me standing saying, "I've been waiting to meet you!"
Thank you so much Patrick. It was so powerful to me, I've cry a lot but feel this connection to my inner child. So beautiful.
This was awesome. Soon as I saw my inner child i immediately visualised running up and playing with her. I've done a lot of inner child work and I guess this is where I am now and it's good that I'm full of love and joy for her. But this has helped me try to now change that into more of an adult - child relationship. In conversation with her - following the meditation what came out was such a tremendous feeling of sadness.
My inner child loves my mum for the most part and loves life in that home which was a lot of fun. Except when my mum would snap and beat the hell out of me over something, and bullying at school - I was 2 yes ahead and not fitting in. So despite wanting to stay with my mum there was an overwhelming sadness over these things. Felt like the first time my 8 yr old self could bring this up knowing they'd be understood over it. So this was profound. Truly. The car ride later was useful too in establishing the 'now yes I've learnt to love you and interact and play with you but now I need to be in the driving seat and established as the adult here'. Such love and warmth. I've been carrying a sadness for days and finally I've rooted it. So thanks..a lot.
Thank you so much for making this video, I just couldn't help but cry once i know i'm going to meet myself under the tree. In the middle of the visualization there's shift in dynamic and i realized that the adult I thought i am had always been my inner child after all. I had lost myself to the gaslighting and brainwashing from my parents and our culture on who I am supposed to be and I realized that even as a 23 year-old i've yet to let my inner child grow up from being "mature" and responsible for my abusive family since I'm still stuck with them. I'm so glad I've stumbled upon your channel during my plan of running away to my boyfriend's very supportive family since my inner child just wouldn't stop worrying about my parents and gaslighting myself for wanting to leave. The inner child still thinks I'm an ass but at least we're in better terms than before and she's starting to understand at least some parts of it.
Thank you for this experience! It was refreshing and gave me some resource. My inner child refused to get in a car or any kind of vehicle because she is carsick. So I remembered that she always wanted to have a horse, and I got her on a horse back instead. And I walked the horse with her on its back through the field and to a small wooden cottage in the countryside, the one she always wanted to live in.
Very helpful. A new daily practice for me. Thank you Patrick and best greetings from the Emerald Isle.
this was so amazing. i have severe anxiety and panic disorder, and this meditation brought me so much peace. i have always been uncomfortable with inner child work. this was a wonderful introduction.
this was a great meditation that I will use more.
I was shocked at the emotional response I had walking up to the tree.
She refused to come home with me after I asked but after answering more questions she immediately asked to go home.
I hope you do more guided meditations or have recommendations. I like how in the book "homecoming" there are multiple ages to welcome the child back home.
Thank you so much for all these videos...putting all the pieces together for me to help explain a lot if places I still get stuck even as a 42 year old now. Thank you Patrick.
Agree with Nikki below. I’m in this for the long haul so more meditations And good parenting lessons would be helpful “- strength training tor the inner adult”! Love that! Thank you Patrick
How can I take care of the child if I feel incompetent as an adult?
I think the incompetence feeling comes from the child and the adult still mixed together, so the child feels that "adult stuff" is too much for them (which is true). Maybe you had to grow up too fast. I'd suggest to start with simple, basic things like taking a shower, eating well, sleeping better, etc. It may sound silly, but it's relieving to say to yourself: "You had to take care of this stuff when you didn't have to, I'm the adult now and I'm taking care of both of us". Good luck!
@@Dan_Chiron YES!
@@Dan_Chiron thank you
I don't feel capable of doing many things in life, but today I feel like I can protect my inner child in the way she was never protected or taken care of. It's a beginning.
I, my body, burst out in tears when I asked myself if she wants to be my family. Then again when I told her I loved her. Thank you! My inner child is around one year, one and a half years old.
Wow, Patrick that was really powerful. When I speak with my therapist the image of my child is always the same, same clothes etc so that must mean something but never sure what. But again, as powerful as it was & it caught my breath I couldn’t cry. My therapist says that is something I would have learned from childhood ie crying doesn’t get you attention/comfort. My child said they wanted to stay with their family so that was ok & I said I would come back but be there if he needed me. In fact when we looked from the tree to the house i saw my parents and my brother and it did provoke good memories but they were tinged. I’m certainly going to keep this video & revisit regularly. I’m on holiday by myself so each day I’ve been listening to you & working on my mental health. Thank you so much for sharing these 🙏❤️
Thank you so much for this, Patrick. Wow, I usually can’t seem to get into meditations, but this time I forced my self to do it b/c I want so much to heal my inner child. I was very surprised to find that I was able to do it, and that my inner child is very willing to come with my adult self and be safe. I can’t fully express how special this was for both my inner and adult child…I think this is the first time ever that I have been able to connect with little me. I was surprised that I had so much emotion come up during this, but I am glad that I did it and I am looking forward to learning more and healing more and giving my inner child the love and care that she missed out on years ago.
i didnt think this would make me cry. such an insiteful video, definately saving this vid for later
Journaled a lot in this series of your videos! Amazing, P!
I cried the entire time…
I LOVED this meditation, Patrick!! Thank you with all my heart!
Pre view: Ok I’m ready for this video. I am very interested especially reading the comments.
Post view:
Oh wow, crying, I am so grateful to you. My psychologist and I are always working on my inner child (angry or vulnerable) and the main one, the demanding, punitive parent mode in which I have to combat all the time.
At first my inner child appeared behind a tree giggling at me and I thought oh they're okay, but as I asked to sit down and started asking questions they got defensive fast and refused help claiming that they could do things themselves. They knew I was them yet they treated me with contempt and said a lot of the same things I remember saying to adults. I tried reassuring them that I didn't have anything against them but they were skeptical the whole time regardless. When I asked them if they wanted to go home with me they answered "I have things I need to do". Thank you for the video! This brought back a lot of issues I've dismissed over the years and I hope I can build trust with my inner child.
Visualization for me was very difficult. But speaking to myself and listening to my inner child really makes me feel connected. I can tell she isn't ready to come home with me yet. But I'll keep showing her that I am ready to show up for her. I'll keep talking to her everyday.
I didn't do the meditation but quickly scrolled to listen . and im crying already when I said' im there for you ' to my younger self
The inner child in my meditation was profoundly sad and looked helpless. She tentatively looked at me when I asked her if she wanted to talk to me, but wasn't 100% sure. When I asked her to hand her hand, I just started crying when she gave it to me and she looked so confused. I didn't imagine her in a car, but rather in a bus, where I put the seatbelt on for her, asked her if she had her water and her sandwich and patted her gently on the head. It was a wonderful short and kind sort of story I told myself and I'm really grateful for this video.
This was interesting. My inner child was very shy and actually hiding behind the tree. But surprisingly very open to me and it was quite comfortable sitting with him. The question of asking him if he wanted to join my family was a bit scary but he said yes quite easily, though still shy. This is great start, very happy for this. Thanks!
I followed your advice in a previous video on having images of me as a child as background/ screensaver on my various devices. That helped somewhat in this visualisation, but I struggled to really get the sense of mini-me. I’ll revisit this particular meditation again and again to open up and connect. It left me feeling very connected with my body. Thank you ❤
A lot of guided meditations have gotten on my nerves really quickly - this one stands out to me as actually really calming. Your voice is nice, I liked the music, and could actually focus on other things than how the voice or music felt uncomfortable
Thank you. It’s a beautiful meditation which helped me realise that I am confused. My inner child was confused what was she upset about and completely lost as if all of that was invalid. And now my adult self here is also confused over it 🙀 send help!
Also I have no idea how I looked like at the particular age I tried to imagine my inner child to be. I can’t piece together my own reflection
I cried right away, so I'll come back to it and do it. I'll also look for episodes 1-4. Lastly, I like that you say "good enough", Patrick. You're so good :)
That was so beautiful, Patrick. The whole meditation was enlightening. Your reference to Eckhart really made me more intrigued since I follow him and his teachings, as well. What a fantastic job you did with helping me connect with my inner child which has been the most difficult part for me to accomplish in doing the work you suggest.
I purchased John Bradshaw’s “the homecoming” online as an audio book, and in paperback because of your suggestion in your first inner child video (I think.) I’ve done his meditations to connect with my inner child from infancy until “school aged.” That’s where I stopped for some reason like 6 months ago. I was doing all the work that the book required. I just shied away from my inner child and they from me.
I have many memory gaps in child and adulthood. That doesn’t help. I recall enough to know I’m not crazy and none of my developmental needs were met and the abuse, neglect, and abandonment were too much for me to handle. Even though I say that I’m not crazy because I didn’t dream or imagine the terrifying, sad experiences I do remember - I think I lost some of my mind as a child due to those frequent occurrences.
Something snapped that made me block a lot out. It was obviously a coping mechanism. I do remember more as I do the work involved. Finding my “presence” with Mr. Tolle has also been part of my recovery. I still blocked a lot out as an adult due to my continuing to let my parents abuse me until a few years ago when I cut my entire family on both sides out of my life. It was the best thing I could have done. Their betrayals were and are palpable. I think this all kept me away from wanting to form a bond with my inner child, as well.
I really hope you continue to make videos such as this. It really made me feel connected to that child again. As usual, I want to thank you for your sharing of your incredible insight into complex trauma and what’s left in its wake. Also, for saving my life since you were the first channel I came across that explained CPTSD and I finally figured out what was wrong with me after over half of my life was over. Better late than never. I appreciate all you do to support and help us all out here, still suffering.