Your Inner Child of the Past

Recently, I was asked what my three favorite non-fiction books are. Based upon what I've read during what I still call as both the most challenging yet most rewarding times in my life, my answer was, "The Power of Purpose," by Richard Leider, "My Mother/Myself," by Nancy Friday, and "I Ain't Much Baby - But I'm All I've Got," by Jess Lair, Ph.d. I had somehow forgotten about "Your Inner Child of the Past," although I in retrospect, especially having just re-read it, I must say that I owe credit to my having started on my quest to find my life's person and to study human behavior, to my having read "Your Inner Child of the Past," at least 3 times, just after college, when I asked myself, "Okay. What do I know now? And how has a formal education given me the tools that I need?" When I first read this book many years ago, I took copious notes, and actually typed them out. Reading those notes, after all of these years, I can see how much I've grown, based upon being ready for the questions and answers that rose up from within me, as I read this book. Now, having just re-read this book, I have less new notes, but the questions that I've honed in on, during this read, and have answered are: 1. What did I do to win their approval? 2. What was their attitude if I did something well? 3. How did they express disapproval? 4. What did they disapprove of? 5. What children did they want me to play with? Why? 6. What was my father's attitude towards me? 7. How did it differ from my mother's attitude? 8. When did I first get any money to spend? 9. When did I feel most dressed up? 10. What was my mother's main worry? 11. What was considered "bad?" 12. What was considered fun? 13. What did my folks tell me about their childhoods? 14. Did I ever play hooky? Why or why not? 15. Was my family religious? 16. What was my family's attitude toward sex? 17. What topics were forbidden to be discussed? 18. What was my parents' attitude about my growing up and marrying? 19. What was my parents' attitude about children towards their parents? 20. Do I remember defying them? (Ha!!!) 21. How differently am I parenting myself, as an adult, than how my parents parented me, as a child? Is there a difference? These are excellent questions to take the time to not only think through, but to also write detailed answers to, because they show how you are parenting yourself now, based upon whether or not you are allowing your adult-self, or your "inner child of the past," control your self-concept.

This is an excellent book for searching for answers and learning what made you who you are and heal anything thats needs your attention. This book helps you understand and heal your soul and spirit.

This book is excellent as an adjunct to the therapy process. It offers clear insights into how one's past, particularly parental attitudes, effects your functioning today. It also offers practical suggestions for antidotes to some of the problems discussed.