Day 2: Echoes of the Past — Inner Child Shadow Work Exercise

Visualize your childhood self.

Think back to those carefree days. When you were a kid, what were you like? Maybe you were the one laughing the loudest, running the fastest, or dreaming the biggest. Remember how you expressed yourself without a second thought? You were so open, so genuine.

Now, reflect for a moment. What traits or emotions from those days do you hold back now? Maybe it’s that fearless curiosity or that uninhibited joy. Or perhaps it’s the anger you felt so freely, the tears you didn’t bother to hide.

Consider this: these suppressed parts of your past, they’re still a part of you. They might be influencing you in ways you don’t even realize. Your quick temper? Maybe that’s your childhood frustration, peeking through. Your hesitation to trust? Perhaps it’s the vulnerability you once embraced but now shy away from.

This kind of introspection, it’s not just about nostalgia. It’s about understanding how the pieces of your past have shaped your present. It’s about seeing how the child you were is still alive in the adult you’ve become.

Through this journey of reflection, we learn to acknowledge and embrace our full selves. We begin to understand that our shadow self, formed over time, holds keys to our true nature. It’s a journey, yes. But it’s one worth taking.

P.S. This post was inspired by the thought-provoking questions in the “365 Days of Journaling for Deep Shadow Work” by Ryan Puusaari, available on Amazon. This series is a powerful tool for anyone looking to dive deep into their personal journey and uncover the hidden parts of their psyche.