Heal Your Inner Child with Journaling Prompts

50 Journal Prompts For Those Healing Inner Child

Ever feel like an eight-year-old version of you is still influencing your reactions and behaviors today? Join us for a heartfelt exploration into the profound world of inner child work, inspired by Lestallion's "50 Journal Prompts to Heal Your Inner Child." This episode promises practical, actionable insights into how journaling can serve as a roadmap to reconnecting with that younger version of ourselves, shedding light on the ways our early experiences, especially the painful ones, shape our adult lives. Expect to gain tools that foster joy, self-acceptance, and emotional resilience, all while offering a compassionate lens to view your past.

We also dive into the concept of reparenting your inner child, guided by the wisdom of Carl Jung’s archetypes, particularly the 'eternal child.' This episode reveals how embracing playfulness and acknowledging old wounds can lead to profound personal growth. We discuss the impact of specific journal prompts, like recalling your favorite childhood game or addressing emotions that were difficult to express. These exercises are more than just memory lane trips; they are powerful avenues for understanding how our past continues to influence us. Tune in for an emotional yet liberating journey towards a more joyful and authentic self.

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Transcript

Speaker 1 0:00

Ever get the feeling like there's a younger you maybe like eight years old, still kind of hanging around inside, and I don't mean in a spooky way, Ha ha. It's more like ever notice how you react to stuff. Maybe it's rooted in those early experiences.

Speaker 2 0:13

You know that's what we're diving into today in our child work Exactly. It's wild how those early joys and hurts especially the hurts can stick with us.

Speaker 1 0:21

It's like having this hidden blueprint Right and the hurts can stick with us. It's like having this hidden blueprint Right and get this. We're using 50 journal prompts to heal your inner child by Lestallion as our guide. I'm excited about this one.

Speaker 2 0:32

Me too. But I find interesting is that Lestallion doesn't just throw out this idea of healing, she makes it practical. You know, 50 specific prompts. That's a lot, but it's like a toolbox for self-reflection, right Like toolbox for self-reflection, right Like journaling, is huge for this kind of work.

Speaker 1 0:44

It's your space to process no judgment. Have you ever noticed how like a strong reaction you have to something? Sometimes it's like, well, whoa, this is coming from somewhere deeper.

Speaker 2 0:54

All the time Say you weren't allowed to express anger as a kid. Yeah, maybe it wasn't safe. Fast forward and bam, you shut down in conflicts.

Speaker 1 1:01

It's like that younger self is calling the shots even now. So how does healing this inner child even work? Are we talking time travel here?

Speaker 2 1:11

Uh-huh, I wish Huh.

Speaker 1 1:13

The Stallion talks about reparenting the inner child, basically Acknowledging those unmet needs from back then Offering compassion to that younger you so not like trying to be the perfect parent now, more like understanding where they were coming from.

Speaker 2 1:25

Exactly Recognizing those tough experiences. Well, they shaped you, but you're also capable and resilient because of them.

Speaker 1 1:32

I like that. A little grace goes a long way. You know, Lestallion even mentions Jungian psychology.

Speaker 2 1:37

Yeah, carl Jung. He explored these things called archetypes, right Universal patterns in our minds, and the pure eternus, the eternal child, is especially relevant.

Speaker 1 1:48

Okay, break that down. For us, eternal child Sounds kind of intense.

Speaker 2 1:51

Think of it as the part of us that craves joy, playfulness, but also holds those old wounds Two sides of the same coin, you know.

Speaker 1 1:59

Makes sense. Yeah, so that's where these journal prompts come in like a roadmap back to ourselves.

Speaker 2 2:04

Exactly, lestallion gives us 50, each one designed to open up a dialogue with that younger part of us 50.

Speaker 1 2:09

She even organizes them into categories which I appreciate Discovering joy, embracing feelings, forgiving and letting go, self-acceptance and love and creating a new path. We've got a lot to unpack.

Speaker 2 2:21

We do. But the cool thing is it's a choose your own adventure kind of thing. Some will resonate more than others. It's about your unique experience.

Speaker 1 2:28

So many prompts, so little time. I thought maybe we could each pick a couple that really jumped out and, you know, really get into them.

Speaker 2 2:35

Love it. It's not about checking boxes, right, it's about depth.

Speaker 1 2:37

Totally Okay From Discovering Joy. This one's simple but powerful. What was your favorite game to play as a child? Seems basic, but what do you think it can unlock?

Speaker 2 2:50

It's like a time machine to pure joy. Not just the memory itself, but what was it about that game? What lit you up? It reminds us adults need play too.

Speaker 1 2:58

It's so true. For me it was Legos. For hours I was in my own world building spaceships, whatever that feeling of I don't know creative flow. We lose that sometimes.

Speaker 2 3:09

Totally. We get so goal-oriented we forget how to just be. You know the stallions onto something here. Tapping into that childlike part can bring back the joy in simple things, even as adults.

Speaker 1 3:20

Yes, permission to not be so serious all the time.

Speaker 2 3:23

Yeah.

Speaker 1 3:23

Okay, one more that grabbed me From Embracing Feelings, what feelings were hard for you to express as a child. How do you handle that emotion now?

Speaker 2 3:32

Ooh, that's a good one. Gets right to the heart of how our past shapes us. Like, say, sadness was taboo in your family. You learned to bottle it up Then, bam, as an adult vulnerability is terrifying.

Speaker 1 3:43

It's like we don't just magically outgrow that stuff, do we? And, on the flip side, creating that safe space for kids now to feel their feelings, that's huge.

Speaker 2 3:51

Absolutely Not about good or bad emotions, but healthy ways to deal with them. And look not to blame our parents. They did what they knew, but we can break the cycle right.

Speaker 1 3:59

Yeah, but sometimes that means facing some tough stuff, which I guess is where forgiving and letting go comes in. What are your thoughts?

Speaker 2 4:07

Forgiveness.

Speaker 1 4:08

Yeah.

Speaker 2 4:08

It's not saying what happened was okay. It's more like letting go of the anger we're carrying. Otherwise, it's like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

Speaker 1 4:16

Right. Holding on to that just hurts us more in the end. There's a prompt here. What grudges are you holding onto that affect your inner child? Easy to brush off, kid stuff, but it sticks with us, you know.

Speaker 2 4:27

Big time. Lestallion talks about visualizing like comforting that younger you. Yeah Sounds kind of out there, but powerful imagery right.

Speaker 1 4:35

It is, and that brings us to self-compassion, which I feel like that's key to all this inner child work. It's funny, right we're supposed to just magically know how to love ourselves, but nobody really teaches us that. It feels pretty key to healing that inner child, though, yeah.

Speaker 2 4:48

Huge and it's not about being perfect. It's more like radical acceptance, flaws and all you know to remember that prompt about qualities we loved in ourselves as kids. It's like how can we nurture that person again?

Speaker 1 5:01

It's true, Kids are kind of awesome that way, Like so free to be themselves. Then we grow up and yeah, expectations and all that.

Speaker 2 5:08

And that's why this work is so powerful. Right, it's like reclaiming those lost parts, finding wonder again in everyday things.

Speaker 1 5:16

Not being childish, but that open-hearted way kids see the world Love it. Okay, last section in Lestallion's book Creating a New Path. It's like we've reflected. Now what actions can we take?

Speaker 2 5:27

Exactly this prompt got me. How can you make your living space more comforting for your inner child? Kind of a cool thought, right.

Speaker 1 5:34

Never thought of it like that. Like what does that even look like? My inner child wants beanbag chairs everywhere.

Speaker 2 5:39

Maybe Could be color plants, a cozy reading nook, whatever sparks that joy, that playfulness.

Speaker 1 5:46

And it doesn't have to be stuff right.

Speaker 2 5:48

Yeah.

Speaker 1 5:49

Lestallion also talks about activities, nature, creativity, even goofing off.

Speaker 2 5:54

Yes, prioritizing joy, making it a habit.

Speaker 1 5:57

It's like remembering what makes us feel alive again.

Speaker 2 6:00

Exactly and through all this being gentle with ourselves. Healing is not a straight line Right. Ups and downs happen, but the more we can tap into that inner kindness, the more we heal.

Speaker 1 6:10

This has been such a great, deep dive. We've talked about how childhood impacts us, the power of journaling and self-compassion as a superpower.

Speaker 2 6:18

And we just scratched the surface. Lestallion's book's got even more for anyone wanting to dive deeper into this whole inner child thing.

Speaker 1 6:23

Seriously check it out. 50 Journal Prompts to Heal your Inner Child. So much good stuff in there.

Speaker 2 6:28

And remember it's never too late to connect with that younger you. They're waiting.

Speaker 1 6:33

Love that. Thanks for joining us on this journey inward everyone. No-transcript.