Inner Child: The Most Magical Aspect of the Self

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It’s so interesting how we can think that our goals and dreams are our own, when in actuality — at least for me — they come from my inner child.
The inner child is the heart of those dreams, whether that be the more healed and balanced version of her, or the aspects still asking for awareness, safety, and acceptance.

To my understanding, the inner child is the version of myself whose sense of wonder and curiosity is still intact — the part of me that finds joy in simple pleasures, and the part that sometimes struggles with trust, boundaries, vulnerability, and intimacy.

The inner child is such a beautiful inner aspect of the self as a whole.
It’s where the light and the shadow exist simultaneously.
And when met with compassion and curiosity, there is so much to learn.

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When Dreams Begin

I’ve always known that my dreams came from the youngest version of me — the one who was allowed to honestly wish, to reach for the stars.
As an adult, those dreams became more grounded, more “realistic,” more shaped by what felt possible.

Given my socioeconomic background as a child, I had already tailored my dreams to what I could feasibly go to school for, or what I could hypothetically achieve if everything went well.

Looking back, I’m honestly grateful things unfolded the way they did.
Knowing what the bottom looks like has been both humbling and motivating — a reminder that no one is exempt from a well-timed tower moment.

When I was around six or eight, I loved to sing. I didn’t think I was good at it, but I loved it.
Now, even though I don’t sing, I still use my voice. That desire transformed into writing, into journalism ideas I explored in high school, and eventually into what I do now.

None of it looks the way I imagined — or the way I was taught it “should.”
And that feels right.

What changed was this: I stopped trying to control desire and started listening to it.

Following what felt fun, exciting, and curiosity-driven led me here — writing this, recording readings, holding sessions. What I do now is more holistic than any single label. There’s more room for breath, for intuition, for divine guidance.

This feels like the ground floor — not the destination.
And I know joy and my inner child are essential to its sustainability… and my sanity.

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The Inner Child Is Not Just Wounds

A misconception I once held was that the inner child only represented pain or trauma.

But the inner child is also creativity.
Play.
Instinct.
Truth.

When I realized I could reconnect with the best aspects of my childhood self, I cried. It meant innocence wasn’t lost — just waiting.

While I don’t feel fully reintegrated yet, even reclaiming part of that wonder has been a blessing I wish for anyone who feels that part of themselves is gone.

Listening to my inner child now depends on my stress level and awareness.
If I feel the urge to rest, to avoid something, or to watch a movie — that’s usually a cue she’s overwhelmed.

Meeting that need with compassion — instead of force — has changed everything.

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When Healing Becomes a Comfort Zone

This is where things began to shift for me.

Inner work and shadow work are important — but at some point, I realized I was over-identifying with the struggle. Healing had quietly become my comfort zone.

I put my life on hold to “heal,” staying in solitude instead of engaging with the world.
The fear was subtle but strong: What if I make the same mistakes again?

What I needed to remember was this — healing isn’t about perfection. It’s about trust.

That fear wasn’t intuition.
It was a learned survival response trying to keep me safe.

The excitement I felt wasn’t danger — it was my inner child ready to explore.
The adult part of me wanted safety in being “under construction,” while my inner child was ready to live.

Forgiving that hesitation was part of the process — and still is.

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Joy Isn’t Irresponsibility

I used to believe that too much fun would make me irresponsible.

Valid fear — but incomplete.

What I discovered was that joy doesn’t erase responsibility.
It sustains it.

When I let my inner child co-pilot, even mundane tasks became more bearable.
Productivity improved. Creativity flowed. Emotional regulation softened.

Leadership stopped feeling like control — and started feeling like collaboration.

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Co-Piloting With the Inner Child

Co-piloting looks like this for me:

• Allowing whimsy without losing structure
• Taking breaks when things stop flowing
• Creating space for unstructured joy
• Listening without immediately fixing

Healthy leadership now feels curious instead of critical.
It’s asking questions from love, not shame.

Working with my inner child has helped release resistance — not just because she feels safe enough to rest and play, but because she feels worthy of that care.

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An Invitation

Is there anywhere in your life where you could let your inner child give directions?

Where might you be postponing joy because it doesn’t feel productive enough?

You don’t have to answer all at once.
Even noticing is enough.

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Author’s Note

Writing this reminded me that healing doesn’t always mean going deeper — sometimes it means going lighter.

If this resonated, trust that your inner child isn’t asking you to abandon responsibility — only to remember that joy is part of your design.

And you’re allowed to come back to it, again and again.

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