Compassion Exercise
Writing Exercise: Healing Your Inner Child
Use reflective writing to understand and support the younger parts of yourself.
BookmarkAbout This Practice
Past experiences can continue to shape emotions and self-beliefs long after the original situation has ended. Writing to a younger version of yourself can help you understand what still hurts and offer the support, protection, or reassurance that was needed then. The purpose is not to rewrite the past, but to relate to it differently from the perspective and resources you have today.
Reflective journaling makes internal stories easier to see and understand. In this practice, the audio guides the timing and prompts while you write, then gives you space to review what you recorded and notice the meaning, evidence, or pattern within it. Keep the Exercise Process below intact as your step-by-step guide, and let your writing be honest rather than polished.
Writing Exercise: Healing Your Inner Child
Guided Practice
Exercise Process
Journal: 6 Minutes
- Finish the following statement: “If I could talk with my younger self, I would say…”
- Keep your pencil moving. If you run out of things to write, then write down, “I have nothing to write…”
Reflection Exercise: 2 Minutes
- Read what you wrote.
- Reflect on the positive aspects of what you wrote.
- Notice how you feel.
Compassionate Breathing Exercise: 2 Minutes
- Breathe and bring some kindness and support into yourself.
- You are not alone in this.
- You are learning to get better.
- You will be able to move forward.
- Remind yourself to be kind if you stumble along the way.
Practice Methods
Micro Practice: Just Three Breaths…
- Breathe and become present.
- Breathe and notice any discomfort.
- Breathe and say something supportive to your inner child.