“Listen With Compassion to the Wounded Child Inside”
Thich Nhat Hanh writes: In each of us, there is a young, suffering child. We have all had times of difficulty as children and many of us have experienced trauma. To protect and defend ourselves against future suffering, we often try to forget those painful times. Every time we’re in touch with the experience of suffering, we believe we can’t bear it, and we stuff our feelings and memories deep down in our unconscious mind.”
The wounded child suffering alone because he/she has been ignored by her adult counterpart.
We are busy with our lives, involved in survival.
“But just because we may have ignored the child doesn’t mean she or he isn’t there. The wounded child is always there, trying to get our attention. The child says, “I’m here. I’m here. You can’t avoid me. You can’t run away from me.” We want to end our suffering by sending the child to a deep place inside, and staying as far away as possible.”
“ I have neglected you, (my inner child) and now I have learned a way to come back to you.” If necessary, you have to cry together with that child. Whenever you need to, you can sit and breathe with the child. “Breathing in, I go back to my wounded child; breathing out, I take good care of my wounded child.
The little child has been left alone for so long. That is why you need to begin this practice right away. If you don’t do it now, when will you do it?“