Behind the Inner Child Series: "She's Listening"

I have learned that the automatic thoughts that pop up are beliefs I have picked up along the way. Most of these come from the people around me as I was growing up. That little girl is still inside me thinking those same thoughts I was told over and over. She can't help it. She doesn't know any better. Sometimes she throws a temper tantrum. She hasn't been taught how to deal with her emotions.

When those thoughts pop up, I would judge them (a.k.a. have negative thoughts about my negative thoughts). I realized that when cursing my self, I am talking to the young unregulated girl inside me. She's just doing the best she can with what she's been taught. When I keep that in mind, it keeps me from judging myself because I would never want to be hateful to that little girl.

Now it is my turn to 'parent' the inner child in me. I can help her regulate her emotions and challenge the thoughts she was taught.

These paintings serve as a reminder of who I am talking to when I say negative things about myself. Each piece carries the name of one of those false beliefs I was taught wether it was directly or indirectly learned. The series title, "She's Listening," is a double meaning. The inner child in me is listening to the way I talk to her, and it's a reminder that my own child is listening to what I say about myself and about them. Those words will be their inner dialogue in the future. I am mindful of what I say. I don't want to pass on that same gerational curse.

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If you are interested in journaling prompts to work through inner child work, you'll want to check out this blog post.