Reconciliation: Healing the Inner Child

In deep therapy for traumatic losses between age 3 and 5 I had not identified, I found this book and bought it outright. I have long admired Thich Nhat Hanh, so devoured this book as I simultaneously worked with a therapist. The book is invaluable!!!! I recommend the book with my whole heart---especially if you are also seeing a therapist specializing in grieving/trauma/cbt. Remember, YOU are doing all the work; the book (the voice and message of Thich Nhat Hanh) serves as companion guide. It's not really a "self-help" book, but a guide and companion as you dig deeply into who you are at your source, explore the woundedness caused by wounded parents...and begin to open to, and take steps toward, healing. Sometimes what he says is not as straightforward or clear until you put it into practice or meditate on it a few days. Meditating through this book has been comforting, disturbing (as in pushing me to think differently which helps me feel differently), challenging, encouraging, and hopeful that healing will continue as I move forward in my life choices and relationships.

I can't say enough about Thich Nhat Hanh's book. This book is potentially helpful for anyone who has struggled as a child with inter-generational adversity (family dysfunction) and is seeking healing. Hanh's voice is always loving, understanding, non-judgmental and wise. He encourages you to listen tenderly to the voice of your innocent, sweet, vulnerable, precious and hurt inner child. Now you are the big sister/brother to this child. You can hold the pain, you can comfort, you can lean in and embrace your inner child. For me, this journey was transformative and very healing. Highly recommended!

This book has been very helpful in working on childhood trauma that I have nearly no memory of. When I was reading and started working on the exercises, people around me said they noticed a difference in me. This book is also good (in my opinion) for non-Buddhists because I only noticed one exercise that referred to Buddha. All the other exercises are addressing emotions or human experiences.

I always enjoy reading Thich Nhat Hanh. It always puts me at ease. Each chapter is a collection of written works all on healing the inner child but disconnect in a way. The end has several chapters written by others on their experiences. Overall a nice reminder on meditation and mindfulness.

I always figured, people don't change. They say they will, and they might really want to, but in the end, we all go back to our habits. This book helped me change. If you already have a meditation practice, it's easier to integrate inner child work. Along with Sarah Peyton's Resonant Self, Thich Nhat Hanh has helped me transform my inner monologue. It's mind-blowing what life is like when your inner voice is a constant stream of motherly coos. By the way, once you do this, once you start being present with and attuned to yourself in this way, you essentially replace your therapist. Also great: Kathryn Woodward Thomson's Calling in the One. These 3 books I keep re-reading. Healing work is repetitious work. Consider too: Bessel Van der Kolk.

Thich Nhat Hanh's books are not "read and be cured" books. They are "practice and heal yourself" books. I've been reading and listening to his teachings for years and this book especially has some very nice exercises in it following the first section, which could be useful for any conflict you are having, parental or otherwise. The trick is that you actually have to do them.. And do them consistently, so that you can help train yourself to feel compassion instead of offense, tension, or pain. I am still learning, but on the days I practice his recommendations, they are a wonderful help in navigating difficult interactions with family so that I can avoid escalating conflict. If you enjoy this one, definitely pick up his "Art of Communicating."

Thich Nhat Hahn teaches love and compassion as a natural state of being with the clarity and humility of a true spiritual teacher. The Zen wisdom he shares is compelling due to it's strength in simplicity yet it demands devotion and departure from the traditionel western perspective of ego worshipping and consumerism which is challenging for a civilisation bred with fear and selv criticism as a driving force. Reading this book can be liberating and I hope to be able to absorb the wisdom by practicing patience and love towards myself and my inner child. I hope others may benefit from such practice as well. Highly recommended.

I am a follower of Thich Nhat Hanh's and have read many of his books. This is probably my favorite, and the one I recommend most. It is written in easy to understand English. Just like the sub-title says, it is all about healing the inner child, with guided meditation instructions on exactly what to do. As an adult, we go back and give our wounded child the love and compassion they needed and deserved. Incredibly transformational.

I heard the concept of inner child several times during Thay Minh Niem’s teaching speeches that I had to find and read this book. I am amazed by how Revered Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh could incorporate healing practice for our current suffering based on healing our inner child.

The author has a wide experience of the mind of most of the people. He helps heal many persons who indeed, have in their soul an inner child who has been traumatized and who never grows. The classical methods of relaxation and contemplation are well described to help the victims of traumatized childhood to heal, to live in peace with themselves and with their families.

A close friend of mine recommended this book to me and I literally sucked it in. Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese buddhist monk living in France, describes in a beautiful and almost childlike way how to obtain a more peaceful and loving perception of oneself, one's "inner child" (what we used to be and felt like as a 4- or 5-year-old which still affects our today's behaviour in some ways), one's environment and ultimately, in the ideal case, of everything and everyone. Somehow, the basic message of this book could be compared to the Jedi way of living. "Be mindful of your thoughts" or "train yourself to let go you must" hit it quite well. To this inner child mentioned above, he refers very often, as well as to buddhism, while his messages always contain allowing yourself to be/think/feel like you do and examine your feelings, understanding yourself and loving yourself for who you are (and by doing so, being able to love and understand others) and/or practising mindfulness, e.g. breathing/sitting/eating with awareness while saying affirmations to yourself like "breathing in, I'm aware of my body - breathing out, I smile to my body". Of course, this book cannot be seen as the one and only solution to all our problems (which one can really?), but for those who are open for it, it can truly be of huge help and one can surely extract a lot of helpful wisdom out of it for subsequent practice. Join my friend, I will, and highly recommend this book to anyone :)

This is one of the most powerful reads ever, whether you are a professional therapist in emotional well being, or an individual 'ready' to explore your young self, who may well be influencing you today. This a resource I will continue providing my clients, when ready and appropriate - and with guidance and support. A wonderful gift to the world, such timeless wisdom.

Lo stile di Thich Nhat Hanh in questo,come in ogni suo testo,è indiscutibilmente semplice ed immediato. La complessità della mente sofferente, soprattutto quando la sofferenza è procurata dal bambino ferito dentro di noi, viene ripercorsa a passi lenti, calmi, e con grande obiettività. Consigliatissimo per chi vuole arrivare alla radice della propria sofferenza ed essere felice.