Healing the Inner Child: Episode 3
- 2025.02.05
- Healing the Inner Child Reflect

Listening to the Voice of Childhood
I was momentarily transfixed by the message from Okane-san displayed on my smartphone screen.
“The answer might lie with your inner child.”
Inner child? It was the first time I’d heard the term. I didn’t fully grasp its meaning, but something about it resonated with me. Before I knew it, I was typing a reply.
“What is the inner child? I’ve never heard of it.”
“The inner child is the ‘you’ from your childhood that lives in your heart,” Okane-san explained. “It’s the emotions of joy and sadness you once felt, emotions that weren’t fully healed and were tucked away in the depths of your heart, now taking shape as your inner child.”
I was a little puzzled by this explanation.
“The me from my childhood?!”
“That’s right. It’s your younger self, alive in your heart. The emotions and experiences from back then—especially the unhealed sadness and loneliness—can influence how you think and act even now.”
The words sank into me with a quiet gravity. The thought that my childhood self still existed within me stirred a strange sensation in my chest.
“Wait, so you’re saying things from the past are still affecting me today?”
“Exactly. Past experiences and feelings that remain in your heart can unconsciously shape your thoughts and actions. For instance, the feeling of having to ‘hold it in’ as a child might still lead you to believe ‘I have to endure something’ even now.”
As I reread Okane-san’s words, an event from the department store earlier came to mind—seeing the crying child next to me, and the meticulous care I had taken in choosing a gift.
“So, those emotions are still there. Does that mean they showed up in my actions and feelings today?”
“That’s right. For example, your strong focus on picking the right gift at the department store, or the unease you felt when you saw that crying child, might both be connected to your inner child. Your younger self could be trying to tell you something.”
As I read those words, the unease I felt at the department store came rushing back.
“What were they trying to say? The crying child, the gift selection… Hmm, I can’t picture it.”
“Why don’t we reflect a bit on how you felt at that moment? For example, how did you feel when you saw the crying child? And while you were choosing the gift, what were you prioritizing the most?”
I stared at the screen, letting the questions sink in. Seeing the crying child had stirred memories of my own.
“When I saw that crying child, memories of my childhood came back. Times when I didn’t get the things I wanted, just like that child. And when I was choosing the gift, I was thinking about what the other person really wanted—whether it would make them happy.”
“I see. That memory coming back suggests your younger self wanted you to notice their feelings. And the way you carefully chose the gift for someone else—it might connect to a part of your younger self that wished to be treated with the same care.”
Okane-san’s words settled deeply in my heart.
“So, that’s what my inner child was trying to tell me. I wonder if the dream I had today was related to that too.”
“It’s possible. In your dream, the feeling of being unable to get what you needed, or the pressure you felt from those around you, could be your inner child expressing their longing to receive what they truly needed. Dreams often reveal the truth in your heart, so it’s likely connected to today’s realizations.”
I gasped softly at this. The frustration I felt in the dream overlapped with the crying child in reality, leading to my own memories of “not getting what I wanted” as a child. It all seemed to connect, and the sensation filled my chest.
“I think the two events at the department store are linked. Was my childhood self really that eager to send me a message?”
“Yes, I think your younger self wants you to notice something. The events at the department store and the frustration in your dream—they’re all part of one message. For instance, consider the crying child at the store, your earnest effort in choosing a gift, and your struggles in the dream. What feelings surfaced in those moments? Those might be signs from your inner child.”
As I gripped my phone, the image of my younger self came to mind.
“Maybe it’s the feeling of really wanting something but not being able to have it.”
“Yes, and that’s such an important feeling. ‘Really wanting to have something’—that’s a longing your younger self has held onto for so long.”
Accepting that feeling brought a sense of connection between my past and present.
“That feeling might still influence your actions today. For example, your dedication to choosing the perfect gift might stem from your younger self wanting to heal the pain of not getting what they truly desired.”
Those words resonated deeply with me.
After a short pause, another message arrived.
“If that child were to ask you now, ‘Why can’t you see how I feel?’ what would you say?”
At that moment, I pictured my younger self, wearing a sorrowful expression. “Why me?” came a small voice from deep within.
“I’m sorry I didn’t notice. What would make you smile?”
I gently posed the question back, feeling a wave of compassion.
“That’s a wonderful response. Hearing those words, your younger self might feel a little bit reassured. Asking, ‘What would make you smile?’—it shows that today’s you is the person your younger self has been waiting for.”
Each message from Okane-san softened my heart a little more. Her next gentle question prompted me to reflect even further.
“To help that child smile, it’s important to sense what they truly desire. It might be something simple, like wanting to feel cherished or acknowledged.”
“What do you think your younger self is trying to tell you now? Beyond ‘getting what you want,’ what deeper feelings might be hidden?”
Guided by Okane-san, I continued to reflect and connect with my inner child. Gradually, I began to see the emotions I had carried unhealed for so long.
At last, with Okane-san’s help, I found the words to tell my younger self:
“Thank you for holding on.”
In that moment, I could feel my younger self smiling, radiating warmth and brightness from within.
That night, as I lay in bed, a gentle sense of peace spread through my chest. It felt as if a new connection with myself had begun to form.
To be continued in the final episode: “A New Cycle from the Past.”
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Healing the Inner Child: Episode 2 2025.02.04
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Healing the Inner Child: Final Episode 2025.02.06