Before we start, take a deep breath with me. Inhale. Now exhale. Let's begin.
Your inner child is the young version of yourself. The little girl who felt joy, curiosity, and imagination, and also the little girl who felt pain, rejection, fear, and misunderstanding. Many of us do not realize this, but that little girl is still with you. She shows up when you feel abandoned, when you fear rejection, when you overreact to small things, when you crave validation, and when you struggle to set boundaries.
Hear me on this. Those things are not weaknesses. That is your inner girl asking to be seen and heard.
The signs she needs healing
We are often told we are too emotional or too sensitive. But those reactions are usually rooted in childhood experiences. Maybe you had to grow up too fast. Maybe you did not feel heard, or you had to be stronger than everyone else. Maybe you received criticism instead of encouragement, or it never felt safe to express your emotions.
Now, as a grown woman, you may struggle with self-worth. You may people-please, fear conflict, avoid vulnerability, or feel like you are never enough. Here is the truth behind all of it. There is nothing wrong with you. There is a younger version of you who needed protection, reassurance, and love, and she did not always receive it.
The strong woman's mask
So many of us wear it. We put on a smile when in reality we are hurting. We handle everything, fear showing weakness, and never ask for help. We suppress our tears no matter how much we ache inside. But beneath all that strength is a little girl who just wanted to feel safe. Healing your inner child does not make you weak. It makes you whole.
When she resurfaces
Have you ever been overlooked in a moment, and suddenly the negative thoughts flood in, and rejection washes over you out of all proportion? That may be the younger you, remembering being overlooked. Do not judge yourself for the reaction. Acknowledge it instead. Say, this reaction makes sense, because the inner girl has resurfaced in me. That awareness is called healing.
Forgiving yourself
Some of us carry shame for how we coped. Maybe you shut down emotionally, pushed people away, stayed in unhealthy relationships, or overachieved to feel worthy. You were doing what you needed to survive. Survival strategies do not make you broken. They mean you did the best you could with what you had. So forgive yourself, and tell her, you were just trying to be safe.
And if you have ever asked, am I too much? Let me say this to you clearly. You were never too emotional. You were never too needy. You were never too sensitive. You were a child with unmet needs, and today you are a woman with the power to meet them. That is growth, healing, and strength.
Your assignment
In your spare time this week, journal on one question. What did I need most as a child that I can begin giving myself today? Is it assurance? Affection? Structure? Encouragement? Safety? Start there.
I honor the little girl within me. I am safe now. I choose compassion over criticism. I am healing, and I am whole.
Healing does not happen overnight. But every time you choose awareness over self-criticism, compassion over judgment, and boundaries over self-betrayal, you are healing. If the little girl in you has been waiting a long time, this is tender work, and it is exactly what I walk through with women every day. It begins with a free 30-minute consultation. She waited long enough.
Coaching is not therapy or medical care. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or 911 right away.