All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
But its still not normalized and talked about enough, in my opinion.
Marie Bertrand/Getty Images
So what does reparenting yourself look like, exactly?
And how can it help you?
Lets get into it.
What is reparenting?
Reparenting and inner child work are like two sides of the same coin, Johnson says.
Its like these children are stuck, frozen in time in that experience.
Today, that might show up as withdrawing at the slightest hint of discord.
And now youre terrified of expressing needs to your partner, even though youknowits not rational.
If you start bringing presence and curiosity to those feelings when they arise, thats reparenting.
How do I reparent myself?
Johnson recommends diving right in.
you’ve got the option to just start today, because its not a perfect science.
Here are some ways to get the reparenting ball rolling.
Self-awareness is the first step.
You cannot heal what youre not aware of, as Johnson puts it.
Journaling is a great way to start meeting your inner child(ren) and building trust.
Trust your intuition about what the younger version of yourself is asking to connect with.
Here are a few prompts Johnson recommends:
Not a bigjournaler?
Healing doesnt only look like big breakthroughs in therapythe small stuff adds up.
I dont need you to be perfect.
I love you no matter what.
Brace yourself to feel pretty damn cringe and uncomfortable, Johnson says.
After all, youre working a new muscle.
By consistently offering yourself compassion in these moments, you strengthen your self-reparenting skills, Dr. OShea Brown says.
Triggering situations are ideal moments for self-reparenting, Dr. OShea Brown says.
Thats a moment to self-soothe and let your inner child know you hear them.
Or maybe you get a situationshipbreakup textand your heart drops into a pit of loneliness.
(Even though you didnt even like them that much!)
Tell that lonely kiddo inside,Im right here with you, youre not aloneand keep them company.
(Youll want to reserve seriously traumatic memories for therapymore on that next.)
Reparenting work isnt all doom and gloom, though.
But reparenting can actually be a whole lot more fun than we realize.
Related:
Get more of SELFs relationship advice delivered right to your inboxfor free.
