🌑 Soft Steps Through the Dark – Part 5

The Child Within: Meeting the Shadow’s Tender Heart

Beneath so many of our shadows lives a child still waiting to be seen.

This child may have learned that softness was unsafe, that joy was fleeting, or that love had to be earned. Maybe she swallowed her sadness to keep the peace. Maybe he stopped dreaming because no one listened. Maybe they learned to be small, quiet, or perfect just to survive.

Our inner child isn’t just a memory. They are still within us—tangled in old wounds, hidden behind our coping mechanisms, peeking through our shadows. The fear of rejection, the ache of abandonment, the shame of “not enough”—these are often echoes of unmet childhood needs still calling for healing.

When we pause to meet the child within, we begin to understand why some wounds feel so deep. We shift from judgment to compassion. We stop asking, “What’s wrong with me?” and begin wondering, “What happened to me?”

This is the part of the journey where we don’t just analyze—we hold. We cradle the forgotten parts of ourselves with gentleness, tenderness, and presence. We re-parent the parts that were never truly nurtured. And we begin to rewrite the story.

🕯️ Mini Ritual: “A Letter to My Younger Self”

This ritual allows you to connect with your inner child through loving words. You’ll need:

• A childhood photo of yourself (or a drawing of how you imagine yourself as a child)

• A candle

• Your journal or a piece of special paper

• A soft item (blanket, stuffed animal, comforting stone, etc.)

  
  

1. Create a Safe Nest:

Light your candle and wrap yourself in something warm. Place the photo (or drawing) in front of you. Let your space feel like a gentle hug.

2. Grounding Breath:

Close your eyes and imagine holding the hand of your younger self. How old are they? What do they need? How do they look at you?

3. Begin the Letter:

Open your journal and write a letter to them. Let your heart speak without censoring. Tell them what they never got to hear. Say what you wish someone had said to you back then. Comfort them. Love them.

Here’s a soft opening if you need it:

“Dear Little Me, I see you. I remember how it felt to…”

4. Read It Aloud (Optional):

When you’re ready, softly read the letter aloud. Let it be a moment of connection. You are both the writer and the one being written to.

🖋️ Journal Prompts

1. What moments from childhood still feel tender, confusing, or unresolved?(Allow any memory to surface—big or small.)

2. What did my inner child most need to hear, feel, or receive that they didn’t?

3. In what ways have I abandoned or silenced this part of me as an adult?

4. What small acts can I do now to offer my inner child the care, safety, or joy they longed for?

5. What would it feel like to bring my inner child with me—not as a burden, but as a beloved companion on the healing path?

🌿 Closing Reflection

Place your hand over your heart or the photo and whisper:

“I carry you now with love. You are safe with me.”

Blow out the candle. Sit quietly for a moment. You’ve just done sacred work—soft, slow, and brave.

🌸Blessed Be,

and may your heart meet its reflection with compassion.

— Bobbi Ann

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🌿 If today’s post spoke to you, the Soft Steps Companion Workbook offers more prompts, guided reflections, and creative exercises that pair with each part of this series. Learn more here.