In the post “Do You Know Who You Really Are?”, I broke down the three instances that make us who we are:

• The Inner Child
• The adult
• The self

In another post, “Understanding The Inner Child — Light, Shadow, And Its Influence On Adult Life”, I detailed both the healthy and wounded aspects of our inner child, drawing on the remarkable insights of German psychologist Stefanie Stahl.

Now, let’s delve deeper into the core needs of our inner child and discuss what happens in adult life when these needs go unmet.

🌱 The Core Needs of the Inner Child — And How to Heal Them

As I said before, your inner child is not just a metaphor. It’s the emotional part of your psyche that carries memories, sensations, beliefs, and unmet needs from childhood.

When these needs are unmet, they don’t disappear — they echo into adulthood, often shaping your relationships, self-worth, and choices.

Let’s explore: