By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
In Yoga, self-discovery is the quest for truth, which begins within each of us. If we manage to avoid the pitfalls of self-pity, we often seek solutions outside of our being. A good example of this is when we try to change others, and when others try to change us.
How will Yoga help you find your inner child? The two words “inner” and “child,” when combined, take on an identity of their own. Someone may think of a situation comedy, while another person may think of counseling sessions. In contemporary psychology, the words, “inner child,” usually refer to the childlike components of a person’s psyche.
In Yoga, we may call this the true self or the original self. The inner child is often suppressed and not allowed to do any creative thinking. In some societies, we are taught to suppress the inner child, which hinders the chance of self-realization, enhanced awareness, or a self-awakening. Heaven forbid that we allow our childhood aspirations and creative thoughts to come to the surface of our being.
Why in the world do you want to find your inner child? Adults often spend time creating and thinking, but it is disconnected from the inner child, our true feelings, or our aspirations. Adults often live for duty. How else is the rent or mortgage going to be paid?
Yoga allows us to reach our inner child, who has aspirations, innovation, and takes positive action toward a successful outcome. Most children are inherently happy. Children are not afraid to take action, fail, learn new skills, or adapt to new environments.
The inner child is starting to look like a natural shot of adrenaline. To find the true self can create a state of new found positive energy. Adults have built their lives upon past success and failures, but that does not mean we processed the information correctly.
How many adults do you know who have given up on life because of past failures? Qualities such as: creativity, taking action, and self-confidence can disappear, if we believe that we are our failures. The important part of failure is to learn from it and alter our plans with a new solution.
Yoga teaches us many forms of self-reflection. To see the true self, look into the past without judgment. Do not indulge yourself in self-criticism. Finding the inner child is not dragging up the mistakes of the past. The real purpose of the exercise is to borrow the positive qualities of the child within, and move forward with solutions in mind.
© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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