listening to your inner child
learning to listen deeply to yourself
is a core practice of the plum village
tradition
to take good care of yourself you must
not only listen to yourself in the
present
but also go back and take care of the
wounded child
inside of you practice going back
and listening to your wounded child
every day
this child is here in the present moment
in every aspect of your life
you can heal them right now
be the big brother big
sister mother or
father that you yearned to have
embrace your inner child tenderly
first establish yourself in your mindful
breathing
and in your body
in all meditation practices
it is essential to listen to your breath
and to your body at the beginning
and throughout the session
you can say my dear wounded child
i'm here for you ready to listen to you
please tell me all your suffering
all your pain i'm here
truly listening
quiet repetition of these key words
can help you hold your concentration
until you can be in touch with your
breath
breathing in i listen
to my in-breath
breathing out i listen
to my out breath
listening to in-breath
our breath
in
out
breathing in i am aware
that my in-breath is short
rapid and loud
or long slow
and quiet
breathing out i am aware
that my out breath is short
rapid and loud
or long slow and quiet
characteristics of in-breath
our breath
i listen
i get to know my breath
breathing in i listen to my body
breathing out i listen to my body
listening to body smiling
[Music]
my dear body i know you are there
and i'm so happy
breathing in i'm aware
that my body is tired
tense restless
or relaxed calm
at ease
breathing out i'm aware
that my body is
tired or relaxed
tense or calm
aware of the state
of my body
i listen i learned to be a
soul mate to my body
now visualize yourself at the age
when the trauma took place
as you follow your inbreds and
outbreaths
you can say my dear wounded child
i am here for you
please tell me about your suffering and
pain
i am here listening to you
i am here for you
[Music]
remain anchored in your breath
and your body so that you may give
your full attention and listen deeply
to your inner child
embrace that child mentally and
physically
and as necessary cry
together with your inner child
your mindful breathing and the
relaxation of your body
serve as the safe harbor
for your child to name the injustice
and to feel heard for
the very first time
if you know how to go back to your inner
child
and listen like that every day for 5 or
10 minutes
healing will take place immediately
and will also unfold over time