Becoming The Parent To Your Inner Child

The formative years of childhood have a definitive power that permeates into the life of an adult. As adults, we ought to be courageous, self-sufficient, and capable of responsibility. These are the qualities we hope that our parents have instilled in us; or, perhaps we have learned from other mentors or caregivers. Ideally, we would have the ability to venture into the world and feel confident in our endeavors. The unknown is not something that would frighten us, but instead, we would welcome it as we feel prepared for what it may or may not offer. We would contain the capability of maneuvering around any obstacle and do so with style and grace. These ideals about what we should be capable of, effortless as we wish, don’t always materialize.

Fear, dependence, and irresponsible/self-sabotaging behaviors are encountered more frequently than we prefer. How is it that I am unprepared for the unknown? The question burrows itself deep into our psyche to the point that it becomes apparent that perhaps we did not receive a consummate education from our parents. There is still very much for us to learn. It is also possible that there is even more for us to unlearn. The thought of life obstacles instigating us to change, particularly when accompanying its representative meaning, makes us sad, angry, and resentful. It is possible for us even to feel abandoned as we now realize that we cannot solely rely upon the people who brought us into the world to help in resolving our problems. They perhaps do not have the answers that we seek. Some of the answers provided by them may no longer serve relevancy. The answers appear to exist somewhere within ourselves, and their attainment requires an evolution of the mind.

Unlearning and relearning (the same trait; or skill, perhaps in a different manner or context) contributes significantly to our character and individualism; however, it can be an incredibly challenging undertaking. There is difficulty and pain associated with delving into our memories to uncover and understand what we internalized as children, but it is the ultimate transformative tool that allows us to move forward in our development. Forgiveness and compassion for those who raised us make the process staggeringly easier as we realize that the glory of our journey is not only in what has been paved for us but also in what we pave for ourselves. Our ability to author our experience. This notion of creation and reinvention which presents itself as an opportunity as opposed to a hindrance. Ultimately the tether, that is, the bond of parent and child, becomes respected, perhaps cherished, as the child becomes an adult who is capable of mastering the unknown and increases their gratitude towards the circumstance of experience. A gained ability that has only become possible due to the past that has occurred and the ongoing cultivation of identity. We can rely less on being our parent’s child by becoming a parent to our inner child.

Needing assistance in understanding what you may have internalized as a child? Please feel free to explore AdamGWalterbach.com or contact me for a phone consultation at 720-551-5863.