Today, I want to introduce you to the four voices that live within each of us. I guess I can even non-clinically diagnose us all with a bit of “multi-personality disorder” (in a good way)! Reflecting on my own journey, I see these voices as both our strengths and sometimes our hurdles.
The first voice is the five-year-old within, that pure, unfiltered part of us who’s always yearning to be seen and understood. So much of what we feel is rooted in this voice, which holds many of our deepest wounds and emotional injuries. Many of the hurts we carry as adults trace back to early childhood traumas that this voice remembers and often tries to protect.
Next is the teenager—the spirited and often mischievous voice. This one keeps us creative, pushing boundaries, bringing zippy-ness into our days.
Then there’s the young adult voice—often the go-getter. But sometimes, this part of us is so dominant it actually suppresses the joy-filled child and the spontaneous teenager in favor of being “successful.”
And finally, there’s the adult, who doesn’t so much nurture but rather tries to moderate the others, balancing the voices and attempting to bring some harmony.
What I’ve found is that peace comes when we let all these voices, especially the five-year-old, be heard. Yes, sometimes this means letting ourselves throw a tantrum or even scream a little.
Suppressing our inner child only causes emotions to resurface in unhealthy ways, manifesting as traits or behaviors we often wish we didn’t have. So many of our struggles trace back to this wounded, unexpressed child inside us.
I was reminded of this recently with my young grandson, William. He was tugging on my hand, calling for attention. At first, I didn’t realize, but then I saw it—that earnest look in his eyes, silently asking to be seen. I knelt down, took his face in my hands, and looked into his eyes, fully present with him.
As I listened, his entire countenance relaxed; his soul connected to mine, and you could see this little boy go into a moment of being understood, felt, and truly seen. Then he proudly led me to show off his new Spider-Man outfit, and in that moment, he was at peace.
Here’s what I’ve taken away from this. First, give your inner child a voice, even schedule a “date” with that part of yourself if you need to. Second, take time to listen deeply to the children in your life, too. They need to feel seen and heard so they grow with the comfort of being fully acknowledged, without the wounds of being dismissed.
Sending you all a bit more understanding and connection today.\
Warmly,
Rich
P.S. If you’ve noticed that reaching out to your children feels strained or forced, check out the Legado Family program!
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BlindSighted, A Journey of Identity, Faith and Healing
In BlindSighted, I share the unexpected journey that reshaped my understanding of family, faith, and identity. A simple DNA test upended everything I thought I knew, sending me on a path of healing and self-acceptance. My hope is that this story inspires others to face their own challenges with courage and find strength in the process.
