How Does Your Garden Grow?

If you have ever planted a garden you know that it needs proper nourishment to grow into beautiful plants. We too need proper nourishment to grow into healthy, vital adults. What often happens is that we get enough nourishment to help our bodies grow, but we don’t provide emotional and spiritual nourishment. As a result we find ourselves stunted emotionally and spiritually. Our inner child is left crying out and hungry.

As adults we may think it’s too late to help that inner child so we continue to neglect that part of us. Because we are ignoring the inner child we are suffering as an adult. Why is that? Our inner child holds those wounds from growing up and some of those wounds have never been cleaned, dressed and cared for. They literally bleed over into our adult lives and until we clean, dress, and allow healing to take place, we continue to suffer along with our inner child.

So how do you provide nourishment to your inner child?

1. Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable – When we begin to clean and dress those wounds and address those issues, it can be downright unbearable. If you are not willing to experience those feelings and emotions then you will never nourish your inner child.
2. Dig deep – In order to find the proper nourishment for your inner child you have to find out what your inner child enjoys. Sometimes digging deep into your childhood is the only way to expose those joys again. Believe it or not, many adults have chunks of missing time in their childhood. Sometimes that is caused by abuse, but whatever the reason you have to spend the time and energy to dig deep.
3. Schedule time for play – That is easier said than done for many people because your life as an adult can be pretty hectic. That’s why you SCHEDULE play time. Don’t expect it to just happen. You have to make it happen. Once you’ve scheduled the time then do things your inner child wants to do. What did you discover about what gives your inner child joy? Do those things and not the things that you feel people expect you to do. This is not about them. This is about your relationship with that wounded part of yourself.
4. Stay connected – Don’t think that by spending on hour or even a day nurturing your inner child that you can slack off. Stay connected by making regular dates with your inner child.

You may be asking, “Why is it so important to nourish my inner child?”. Your suffering as an adult is because you have not take the time to nourish and allow your inner child to heal. By taking that responsibility seriously, you will find that your suffering will diminish and your joy will increase.Your sense of well-being will be strengthened and I believe your ability to solve future challenges will be enhanced because you are more in alignment with your whole self.

If you quiet your mind you will hear your inner child crying out. Don’t close the door again.

Visit my website for a free audio meditation. www.annettebingham.com