How I Found Inner Peace by Listening to My Inner Child and Letting Go of the Past

Honouring Winter, My Inner Seasons, and Emotional Healing

I’ve been observing myself closely on these winter weekends. The wind howls, rattling the doors, while the rain splashes against the windows. I feel cocooned and safe in my bed. After a week of early mornings and doing my best to stick to my morning routine, the weekends have become a time of slowing down—much to my cat’s dismay!

At first, old programmes played on repeat in my mind when I lingered in bed: “You’re wasting time! You have things to do! Bad thoughts will creep in!” But then I reminded myself where I am in the year—winter—and where I am in my cycle—autumn.

As a projector in human design, rest is my superpower. I’ve learned that as long as I stick to the feel-good practices that nurture me once I’m up, then I’m absolutely fine. I trust that if I had commitments, I’d meet them. It’s all about balance—and that’s okay!

This morning was a perfect example. Here I am, sipping a beautiful cup of hot cacao, journaling, and writing this blog. I’ve also set a list of tasks to complete today, so everything is in flow.

Slowing Down & Being Present Is The Key.

The Unexpected Emotional Unpacking From My Inner Child

When I woke up, someone I’d been seeing for a couple of months was prominent in my thoughts. I noticed my attitude toward him too—it felt spiked and defensive. I tried to brush it off and focus on my morning routine, but as I went about my chores, my mind kept drifting.

It wasn’t until I sat down in stillness that the truth started to unravel.

I made a conscious effort to ground myself. I sipped my cacao slowly, letting the rich, chocolatey flavour coat my tongue. I felt the warmth of it going down my throat and settling in my stomach. With my eyes closed, I smiled and whispered, “Thank you, Mama Cacao.”

Then, I turned inward and started journaling, beginning with a simple question to my inner child: “Good morning. Can I ask you a question?”

I asked about my scattered energy—my tapping foot and the way my thoughts seemed to glaze over. Her answer surprised me: “It’s from TikTok videos and reels. Overstimulation is taking up headspace and replaying over and over.”

She was right. I’d deleted the apps before but recently re-downloaded them, and sure enough, the scrolling crept back in. I thanked her for the insight but sensed there was more. I asked why the person I woke up thinking about was on my mind.

At first, I wrote, “I don’t know.” But I knew that wasn’t true. So I let the pen flow. “I miss him,” I wrote. And suddenly, the floodgates opened: “I miss his laugh, his quirks, his words, his presence, his beautiful eyes.” As I wrote, the scattered feelings inside me began to settle. My leg stopped tapping. I felt present and calm.

The Power of Acknowledgment

I spoke out loud to myself, saying, “I’m sorry, my love. I see now why your energy is scattered. For so long—maybe a lifetime—I’ve denied my true feelings about things, believing that focusing on the future would help me move on. But I now understand that while looking forward is important, it’s just as crucial to unpack what’s already in my shopping bag, before filling it up again! Denying how I truly feel doesn’t serve me; honouring my emotional experience does. That’s where real healing happens.”

(This songs brings about the feel of the voice that has been suppressed & submerged, now floating to the surface to be heard - if listen, we can hear all) This realisation didn’t bring an onset of sadness or weakness. In fact, I felt released. Acknowledging my feelings lightened my load and aligned me more deeply with myself. I’ve worked hard on loving and caring for myself, feeding my brain the right material to thrive. Even though I can admit to missing him, I wholeheartedly want what’s best for him and his happiness. This acknowledgment isn’t a step backward—it’s a profound step forward.

Healing in Unexpected Moments

What surprised me most was how this moment of clarity came seemingly out of nowhere. It’s been over a month since this relationship ended, and I’ve been doing incredibly well. But I now see that my slower mornings, longer dream states, and quiet winter weekends created the space for these feelings to rise.

The attitude I woke up with was my protective self, trying to shut it down. The scattered energy was the discord between how I truly felt and my resistance to acknowledging it.

By creating a safe space for my inner child to express herself, I was able to listen, process, and move forward with a lighter, calmer heart. I’ve learned that allowing my inner child to express herself safely and listening with compassion brings incredible clarity. This morning, what started as a seemingly random moment of sadness became an opportunity to realign and reconnect with myself. It reminded me that healing isn’t linear, but it’s always worth the journey.

A Reminder for Myself (and Maybe for You Too)

Healing isn’t always linear. Sometimes, it looks like lulling in bed on a winter morning, sipping cacao, and having a heart-to-heart with your inner child.

It’s not about avoiding emotions or rushing through them—it’s about creating space to honour the truth of how you feel. That’s not sadness; that’s strength.

So, to my inner self: Thank you for trusting me. I see you, I hear you, and I’m proud of you.

And to anyone reading this: Maybe it’s time to unpack your shopping bag too. You might find some surprises waiting to lighten your load.