Healing and Hypnotherapy Volume 7, Special Annual Issue, 15 June 2023 | Page 25

5 . Loving and supportive affirmations
We are social creatures who need others to hold space for us . Your pain needs to be lovingly validated . If the person you ’ re sharing your inner child work with is questioning , arguing , or trying to give advice to you , you ’ re not getting what you need ! Here , it is vital for me to emphasise the need for you to seek real caring and nurturing support . If you don ’ t have friends who are mature or capable enough to do this , please consider finding a trained and trauma-informed therapist or spiritual counsellor . There are many affordable options out there . Investing in your well-being and mental health is worth it . There are also many professionals out there who specialise in inner child work or hold workshops . Counsellor and self-help writer John Bradshaw writes “ I believe that group work is the most powerful form of therapy ” when referring to inner child work . But one thing : please don ’ t share with your family members , even if they are caring . Family members who have not done their own inner child work are much less capable of dealing with yours . Defensiveness , anger , finger-pointing , and grief may result in sharing your feelings with family members , so please don ’ t do it . Sharing takes tremendous courage and inner strength . It ’ s normal and okay to feel scared ! Feel the fear , and if you feel ready , share anyway .

5 . Loving and supportive affirmations

Loving affirmations are a powerful way to affirm your worthiness and support your journey in feeling safe . When repeated consistently , affirmations have a way of rewiring the brain and sinking down into unconscious layers of programming . Repeating such messages can result in deep change and healing at a primal level . Here are some loving and supportive affirmations you can say to yourself throughout the day and during meditation :
• I will stay here and support you .
• Welcome to the world , I ’ ve been waiting to hold you .
• I love you just the way you are .
• I ’ m so glad you ’ re here .
• I want to protect / take care of you .
• I want to spend time with you .
• I want to hear your thoughts and feelings .
• It ’ s okay to feel sad and scared .
• It ’ s okay to be yourself .
• You ’ re allowed to say no .
• You are so special to me .
• You have so much to offer the world .
• I believe in you .