Today’s post in an important topic and I’m happy to cover it.
Reparenting is the practice of giving yourself what the younger version of you didn’t receive. Reparenting ourselves helps us heal from our childhood.
You might be wondering why I am bringing it up. Well, part of this healing trauma process is learning how to prioritize your self-love and self-care.
Reparenting yourself as an adult can help you heal from emotional wounds that went unaddressed in your childhood.
Here are some steps to help you reparent yourself:
- Identify your unmet needs: The first step in reparenting yourself is to identify the needs that were not met in your childhood. These could be emotional needs such as love, safety, validation, hugging, or physical needs such as food, shelter, and clothing.
- Be compassionate with yourself: Be kind and compassionate towards yourself, as if you were a loving parent. Acknowledge your pain and validate your feelings.
- Practice self-care: Take care of yourself physically and emotionally. This could mean eating healthy, getting enough sleep, exercising, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and peace.
- Practice self-soothing: Learn ways to soothe yourself when you’re feeling distressed. This could be deep breathing, mindfulness, visualization, or other relaxation techniques.
- Give yourself affirmations: Give yourself positive affirmations and reminders of your worth and value. Repeat them to yourself daily. Post them in a visual spot if you’re really needing the reminders.
- Build a support system: Surround yourself with people who are supportive and nurturing. Seek out a therapist or counselor who can help you process your emotions and provide guidance.
- Forgive yourself: Forgive yourself for any mistakes or perceived failures. Remember that everyone makes mistakes and it’s part of the learning process.
I coach quite a few women in my practice who are learning to reparent themselves. It is a gift to be able to be by their side as they do so.
Reparenting yourself is a journey, and it takes time and work to heal from your past. With patience, compassion, and self-care, you can heal and grow into a healthy, happy adult.
Sending you so much love, Erica
