Childhood Wounds

As I learn about people, I start to see them as children trapped inside an adult size body. I know that this sounds insulting but I don’t intend it to be. We see children and assume that they are not even human beings because they are still in the growing phase of life. Therefore, their understanding of life is smaller and does not contain the same layers of experience that adults have. However, children are able to see the world from a less corrupted perspective. Over time, adults experience more lessons and take on more responsibilities. The experiences we have alter our brain and therefore our personalities. Sometimes, when children experience any form of trauma they mask their true emotions to placate the adults and caregivers in their lives. Children are taught at a young age to please the adults that take care of them. They don’t know any other way because there are conditions placed on them that can affect the way they receive love, care and affection. This is not every child but as someone who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, this is how a lot of my generation felt.

Therefore, when I meet with clients I am drawn to their inner child because this is where a lot of the wounding is found. Childhood is when patterns are created. When we are struggling in our adult lives we go back to masking and pretending that everything is fine so that we don’t upset the people around us. This is a pattern. A lot of times I will observe people (not just clients) who will revert to childlike behavior when they are under pressure. In my life, when I was operating from a place of societal pressure and conformity, I would revert to childhood behaviors. My triggers are abandonment and judgement. When I would feel abandoned or judged I would sink into a place of self-loathing or self-pity that would consume my life and affect how I would interact with other people. Or, I would isolate and refuse to seek help or trust anyone, therefore pushing people away in my life.  I had a deep fear of being seen and heard because that is when I could be judged. This pattern kept me from creating close relationships in adulthood and trusting people because of the pain I experienced during childhood. It also kept me from knowing my power and worth. When I would revert to my childhood patterns, I would get stuck. When I get stuck in my patterns I am no longer present in my body and I am living through a childhood wound that keeps me from healing and moving forward.

When we heal our wounds, we learn our lessons and find our power. We are no longer trapped in fear and anxiety because we know that we are safe enough to move forward authentically. We are whole. We are safe to be who we are meant to be because we are no longer operating from childhood wounds. So, when you are feeling overwhelmed and start to feel the need to cope or express yourself from a place where your wounded inner child would operate, trust. Trust that you are a beautiful, radiant human being who is worth a life that is full and joyful. Trust that you are making decisions from your highest version of who you are. You are wise, you are capable and you are here to exist in a state of love.