Listening to Your Inner Child
Imagine your childhood bedroom.
Where are you?
Are you sitting or lying down?
What are you looking at?
Is there a window?
Now, turn and look next to you..
It’s you, as a little girl!
How do you feel looking at her?
Is there anything you wish to tell her?
It’s ok not to react or respond. To just sit with yourself and LISTEN.
Acknowledge the child within and let her make the choice to go outside. Let her show your future-self the things in life that bring her joy!
Then, take her hand — and lead her.
Courage is personal. Leadership begins inside. So — show up where it matters. You don’t have to do it all. You’re not meant to fix everything.
You want change?
BE the Spark! Speakup! Say the thing! Start the shift!
But, remember to check yourself.
Is it ego, or is it impact?
It’s not about proving — it’s about embodying.
This is not the time to call people out just to feel powerful — it’s a time to call yourself in.
Softness lives in your body, so bring it with you!
Musician and producer Jacob Collier says:
“Softness is not a sign of weakness, but rather a crucial element of strength. Human beings, like rhythms and waves, were born to wiggle — to express ourselves and find our place in the world. To soften each other’s edges. Softness is our biggest defence against hard lines. Take for example the image of a branch of a tree: If a branch is brittle — like, it’s really solid and unmovable — then it will snap. Whereas, if a branch is supple it will bend, but it will hold it’s own — it will bend with the weather, and along with the wind and conditions of the universe. So don’t be afraid to wiggle!”
This isn’t about blame — it’s about noticing!
Are you bringing your full Self to your connections? Or a curated version of you?
Let the emotional discomfort guide you — not to run, but to recalibrate.
Name your needs — clearly, lovingly — and without shame.
Acknowledge your fear and look deeply at it’s source.
So, how do I stay connected to my truth while staying plugged into the world around me?
The answer isn’t to turn away, but to choose one thing you can act on.
Then, how can we bridge the gap between misunderstanding and collaboration?
The joy of being present!
Of asking the ‘Judger’ in your mind to step aside and let the ‘Listener’ take a seat in the circle of conversation.
Bring awareness and acknowledgement of the small little details that layer this planet — respect the natural occurrences and flow of life.
If we don’t push to the edge of our comfort zones, we’re essentially taking all the color out of our experiences.
Deep down — what is it that our Inner-child cares about?
Is it truly, understanding the nature of life and it’s constant renewal?
We can cultivate, we can grow, we can use what’s around us.
The joy that comes with exploration fills the coffers of the soul.
My inner-child remembers the smell of trees and grass and dirt. The changing of the seasons and appreciating that.
Let us return to our roots — grounding — and remember to get dirty every once and awhile.
It’s not about who is the best, who is the greatest, who is the most well known — but about who is the most fulfilled.
Webster’s Definition of Fulfilled: To be satisfied or happy because of fully developing one's abilities or character.
Is it more important that you ‘have it figured out’ or more important that you AND others are learning?
Surrender to the darkness and you’ll realize it is actually FULL of COLOR!
I would tell my inner-child she is heard. That her feelings are guideposts, leading her to fulfillment, adventure, and independence.
That her choices directly reflect her inner-peace and measure of acceptance.
That her mistakes and how she responds to them are what will shape her values and nurture compassion and kindness.
What does your inner-child need to hear from you?
Ashley is the Media Manager for HHJ. She has not only been witness to the growth of this community over the last year, but was also a participant on the inaugural trip to Baja in 2022 and continues to share her love for travel and adventure.
You can watch her video from the Baja journey HERE!
Or visit her website at www.ashleybay.com
The Honest Heart community is for women who think deeply and are spiritually alive. We care about our world, and one another, and bring honest hearts and open minds to individual growth and discovery.
