Healing the Inner Child Trapped by Fear

Embracing Our Inner Child Journey

It was a combination of listening to a guided Kirtan meditation, Saas Saas Simro by Satpal Singh & Hajara Singh called Divine Awareness that opened my eyes to a door I didn’t realize existed. On June 26th, 2025, around 9 am Pacific Time, I felt it. As I waited, time passed slowly. It was a 75-degree day in sunny San Jose, California, and little did I know what awaited me.

Around 3 pm, while browsing Facebook reels, Master Shi Heng Yi appeared to speak about resolving or letting go of past experiences. He guided a breathing technique that quieted my mind. Suddenly, Thich Nhat Hanh spoke about fear. He emphasized that pushing away our fear means rejecting a part of ourselves, which only deepens our suffering. Here’s a powerful excerpt from “Beyond Good and Evil | Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh”:

Your Fear is Yourself

And Fighting Your Fear is Fighting Yourself

Being Afraid of Your Fear is Being Afraid of Yourself

So Using the Energy of Mindfulness to Embrace Your Fear

Represented by the Little Wounded Child Within You

Is a Beautiful Image Corresponding to the Truth

Because that Suffering Child is Still Alive in You

And You May Have Been Too Busy to Take Good Care of Him or Her

And Now You Know the Practice

And You Have to Go Back to Him or Her

To Hold Him or Her Dearly In the Arms of Mindfulness

With Your Mindful Breathing, Your Mindful Step, You Take of Him or Her

And You Rely on the Collective Energy of the Sangat

In Order to Embrace Him or Her, to Nourish Him or Her also

In that moment, I envisioned my inner child. It filled me with humility. I saw my childhood innocence through the eyes of an adult. What I discovered next was profound.

Understanding the Inner Child

Within each of us lives a child—tender and vulnerable—shaped by past experiences. This "inner child" holds both joy and pain, triumph and trauma. When this child is trapped by fear, silenced by unhealed wounds, it can lead to feelings of disconnection, insecurity, and loss of direction. The journey inward to rescue this child is not only healing but transformative, allowing us to reclaim parts of ourselves left behind.

What am I truly afraid of? Having lost everything but my breath, I questioned these wounds that remain unhealed.

• I feared failure, and I failed: Wounds of being Authentic.

• I was afraid of love, so love departed: Wounds of the Heart.

• I feared winning, hence I lost: Wounds of a Mindset.

• I feared losing my job, resulting in being laid off nine times: Wounds of being an Imposter.

• I feared losing money, and bankruptcy followed: Wounds of Stability.

• I feared losing my family, and they left: Wounds of the Soul.

• I feared not being accepted, so I was cast out: Wounds of Isolation.

• I feared not being enough, and what I had was taken away: Wounds of Lack of Confidence.

• I was afraid of society, so I became a volunteer: Wounds of People.

• I was afraid of being a leader, so I was made a fool: Wounds of Self-Identity.

• I feared going to jail, and I became a prisoner: Wounds of Freedom.

  
  

These fears can feel overwhelming. Yet, acknowledging them is the first step toward healing.

The Inner Child and Its Voice

The concept of the inner child refers to the psychological reality of our early experiences. This part of our psyche feels deep emotions, believes in endless possibilities, and craves unconditional love and acceptance. Life's challenges—abuse, neglect, abandonment, or even minor wounds—can overshadow this innocence, trapping the inner child in fear.

This child may feel unheard, unseen, and lost, which can lead to an adult life filled with self-doubt, anxiety, and emotional numbness. Recognizing this voice within us is crucial for healing. Its cries for attention often manifest as unexplained sadness, a relentless inner critic, or repeated behaviors that hold us back. For me, I felt trapped in a cycle of alcohol dependency.

Rescuing the Child Within

To rescue the inner child is to embark on a journey of empathy, understanding, and self-compassion. It’s not about erasing fear; it's about embracing it, acknowledging its roots, and rewriting the narrative of past experiences.

Often, the inner child's cries go unnoticed amid daily life’s chaos. To reconnect, we need moments of stillness to reflect on our emotional triggers. Journaling, meditating, and allowing ourselves to feel without judgment can help bring this hidden part of ourselves to light. It’s akin to discovering the divine within us.

Listening to the Child

The child within longs to be heard. Every fear or wound carries significance. Instead of dismissing past pain with phrases like "It wasn’t that bad" or "I should have been stronger," we must offer understanding: "I see you. I believe you. It’s okay to feel this way."

Much like comforting a distressed child, we must extend the same compassion to ourselves. Visualize your younger self and offer words of reassurance: "You are safe now. You are loved. You are not alone.”

The inner child is not merely a vessel for past pain; it’s also a wellspring of creativity, wonder, and joy. Engaging in fun activities—art, music, or laughter—helps us connect with this vital energy, bringing it into our adult lives. For me, it’s rooted in a greater connection to nature that has led me to reconnect with those around me. It’s a slow journey of healing, allowing me to come back "home." Now, I play as an adult, embracing the freedom of that inner child.

Healing and Moving Forward

Rescuing the inner child isn’t a one-time act; it’s a lifelong relationship. It has taught me to be gentler with myself, embrace imperfections, and approach life with curiosity rather than fear. Over time, as we nurture this connection, the child within regains their voice, courage, and direction. The Grace of the Almighty, Waheguru, awakens within us.

In pursuing this journey, we free ourselves from fear, rediscovering the beauty of wholeness. Although challenging, this process is profoundly rewarding—a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and its capability to heal.

Embracing the Fear

We must rewrite the narratives associated with our wounds:

• Wounds of being Authentic → Forgiveness

• Wounds of the Heart → Loved by God

• Wounds of a Mindset → Positivity

• Wounds of being an Imposter → Warrior

• Wounds of Stability → Solid Foundation built on God’s Love

• Wounds of the Soul → Uplifted Spirit

• Wounds of Isolation → Acceptance

• Wounds of Lack of Confidence → Each Moment is God’s Grace

• Wounds of People → Smile at the God Head in You, Everyone & Everything

• Wounds of Self-Identity → Now I recognize the God Within

• Wounds of Freedom → Ego Gone, Love Remains with a Sunny Smile

  
  

Conclusion

The child within may have felt lost, but they are never beyond reach. By turning inward with courage and compassion, we can rescue this essential part of ourselves and invite a life filled with authenticity, joy, and freedom. In embracing the child trapped by fear, we ultimately find our way back to ourselves. This journey leads us home. In my case, the sun now shines from within me.