Are We A Project In Need Of Repair?

"Under the green canophy, I find peace and tranquility."

The concepts of inner-self, self-love, and healing therapies are likely not unfamiliar to us, particularly for those interested in psychology and healing in today's generation. Healing the inner child, reconnecting with the true self, and listening to the voice of intuition have become increasingly popular. It is easy to see when we browse through YouTube, articles, and mini-talk featuring interviews with famous individuals, from young people to seasoned artists who consistently share their perspectives on their "inner child." However, is this "inner child" always the one that is hurt and needs healing?

Is your inner child to blame? 

We all understand that as we grow older, we slowly forget our individual needs to conform to societal norms, which is a fundamental survival instinct as humans. Our family, relatives, and closest acquaintances are the initial small society we encounter. When we solely listen and absorb all that adults impart to us. Our world becomes limited to the definitions of right and wrong as adults dictate. We are instructed on what is considered naughty and deemed good, and we are expected to adhere to goodness and avoid naughtiness. Those were the initial materials that formed the basis of our current pattern.

To upgrade ourselves to the desired version and free ourselves from societal standards,  we revisit our child version to reweave our patterns. However, before healing the inner child, we must ask ourselves, "Do we view ourselves as flawed versions?". This also prompts us to reconsider our values within this universe. What worth do we possess when we believe we are flawed creations needing repair?

Mechanism of healing

We often overlook the fact that healing occurs naturally. Even as we delve into our past, we must heed the guidance laid out by others to reconnect with our inner child. Somehow, we are reminded to listen to our inner child with our intuition, but we unintentionally use adult logic to judge our desires as children. We are all special in our own way. Therefore, there is no general formula or common path to discovering each individual's inner self.

We are undervaluing nature's creativity. One incredible aspect of ourselves, from physical to emotional well-being, is our ability to heal ourselves. We are all miraculous designs of creation, and our task is to cultivate the optimal conditions for our bodies, emotions, and minds to fulfill their needs.

In other words, we do not have to reluctantly force our own, unique healing journey. Even amidst severe suffering, we remain on the right path.

What should we do about traumas?

Pain and suffering remind us to focus on ourselves and heed our intuition. Typically, we don’t notice our fingers until they’re accidentally cut or our appendix until it becomes inflamed. These injuries serve as reminders to exercise caution when using a knife to prevent cuts and to eat in moderation to avoid appendicitis. Similarly, emotional and mental injuries remind us to pay attention to the minutiae of our surroundings.

Trauma does not imply that we are flawed, nor does it transform us into an incorrect version of ourselves. It’s merely a voice guiding us back to addressing our fundamental needs.

We have always been individuals with unlimited potential. The ultimate objective in self-love is unconditional acceptance, even of what society perceives as weaknesses. Patterns simply emerge from our experiences. We can weave unique and creative patterns with the resources at our disposal.

Enjoy your game to the fullest!

Written by Nguyen Phuong Thuy.

Photo by Adam Welch.