How To Start Reparenting Yourself & Move Toward Self-Empowerment
Updated: Feb 7, 2024
Written by: Gente Portman, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Reparenting is a total it-word right, for good reason I’ll add, and I love how equally simple and deep reparenting work can be for any of us.
What is reparenting?
If you’re not familiar with this trending term yet, let me give a quick explanation. Reparenting is a concept and process that involves learning how to meet your own emotional needs through self-awareness and inner care. It often involves relearning or developing skills that were not learned in childhood due to a lack of positive parenting.
Essentially, as an adult, you choose to unlearn and release the hurtful and unhelpful ways in which you were parented, and you replace them with your loving voice and lessons.
Does this sound like an overwhelming process to embark on? It’s okay if it does.
Remember This
No healing process is quick and easy, and that’s important to remember, because where you are today took a great number of years to get to, and that conditioning and pain will not just dissipate in a matter of weeks and months. This is a slow and steady shift towards yourself, step by step you begin to choose your true and empowered self.
Here are three ways to begin reparenting yourself:
Notice Your Inner Voice – Simply get curious about that inner dialogue and negative self-talk that shows up. Get curious about whose voice that is. Pause on the judgment, simply witness it. If it feels like it comes from a parenting voice, take a breath and remind yourself “This is not mine, this is not my truth”.
Write To Your Inner Child – Your inner child is holding onto wounds that stem from not feeling seen and heard by your parents, and not feeling worthy in their presence. Truthfully, our parents won’t be the ones to heal those wounds, but you can give these reparenting gifts to yourself. Write about the pain, the disappointments, and the fears your inner child experienced, and meet them with love and compassion from your adult self.
Tune Into Your Authentic Needs – You no longer need to please or fight everyone else. Take a moment to come back to yourself, right here, right now. What do you need to feel seen, heard, and that you matter? How can you meet those needs for yourself? How can you choose your true and empowered self today? You are worthy of meeting those needs and strengthening the internal message that you are no longer a helpless child, but an empowered adult.
Feeling resistant?
The resistance to helping ourselves and moving towards an empowered part of ourselves shows up swiftly and strongly, doesn’t it? It’s a natural reaction coming from our parenting and conditioning that we do not deserve to feel good and worthy in this world. Recognize your resistance. Instead of not acting at all, begin with one small step. The first step that feels possible towards choosing your own wonderful self.
Are you feeling drawn to taking a step, but still feeling uncertain about how to begin? You can grab my inner child healing journal prompts here. Want to go even deeper, with some support? Book a complimentary coaching session with me here.
Gente Portman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Gente Portman is your navigator of parenting, mental well-being, and authentic living. Gente is a certified Conscious Parenting Coach CPM™ and Energy Healer, with a counseling skill set from her Psychology background. With a gentle presence, deep compassion, and attuned action you will be guided toward an empowered part of yourself. Gente is the founder of Equilibrium, a platform that inspires conscious parenting practices for all. Her mission: Healing self. Healing family.
