How to Heal From the Past
Your inner child is a younger version of yourself that you carry around inside of your adult self. It’s a part of you that you can connect to and nurture, but it’s also a part of you that can help you heal from the past.
Healing your inner child is a big part of the process of overcoming trauma and navigating life. It can be a challenging and tender process, but it’s essential for your wellbeing and growth.
Breathing is one of the most basic functions of the human body. It is also a powerful way to calm the mind, release tension and strengthen muscles.
There are a lot of muscles that work together to breathe, including the lungs, the diaphragm, and the intercostal muscles between your ribs. These three organs help you to inhale and exhale at least 17,000 times a day.
A healthy breathing routine can boost your mood, improve digestion and heart health, strengthen your immune system and increase your athletic performance. But the majority of people aren’t breathing properly.
The proper breathing technique involves a deep, sniff-like breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. This can be done while lying down on a chair or on the floor, placing both feet about hip-width apart.
A strong observer is able to notice, analyze, and remember their surroundings using all of their senses. This is an important skill to develop, especially when you are at work, where the ability to pay attention to detail can be beneficial.
To strengthen your observation skills, spend time each day observing your environment non-invasively. This can include people, objects, animals and nature.
Observing can also be done from a comfortable seat in the park or a quiet corner of your home. Try to engage all of your senses – sight, sound, touch and smell.
Developing good observation skills takes practice, but it’s a valuable tool that can help you succeed in life. It can help you make better decisions and respond appropriately to other people’s needs.
Listening is a crucial skill that can help you to communicate better with others. It is essential in a wide range of situations, from school to work.
A key aspect of listening is being able to focus on what someone says without distractions. This is important because a speaker may be conveying complex information in a very short period of time, and they want to ensure you hear their entire message.
Effective listeners make eye contact, use positive minimal response cues, and are attentive throughout a conversation. They also show that they're paying attention by nodding, making sure their facial expressions are clear, and giving a positive minimal response such as "yes" or "ok" when the speaker asks questions.
The ability to trust someone is the foundation of all significant relationships. It allows you to feel safe and vulnerable with them without having to defend yourself.
It’s important to remember that trust can be disrupted, and it can be difficult to regain it. But it’s possible to reconnect with your past experiences and rebuild trust in the present.
To do this, begin by listening to the voice of your inner child and heeding its needs. You’ll find that your nonjudgmental response is crucial, explains Dr. Barbara Grant, founder and developmental specialist at Nudge and Cradle.
She recommends checking in with your inner child every day (or week) for a month or two, and writing to it (as your adult self) about how you’ll take care of its needs.
If you’re a leader, it’s also helpful to listen to your team members and consider their feelings, observations and needs. This helps to build a foundation for trust and ensure that you’re able to meet their expectations as a leader.