Welcome to the Songwriting Exercise of the Week – the Inner Child Exercise. This exercise is all about looking back at your younger self and considering what you would tell them if you could. It can be a powerful way to connect with your past, reflect on your experiences, and find inspiration for your music. Here’s how it works:
- Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to relax and clear your mind.
- Imagine yourself as a child, around the age of 5 or 6, or when something significant happened at any other age. What do you see? What do you feel? What are you doing?
- Think about what you would tell your younger self if you could. What advice would you give them? What would you tell them about their future? What words of encouragement or comfort would you offer?
- Write down your thoughts, either in the form of a letter or a list of bullet points. Don’t worry about grammar or structure – just write whatever comes to mind.
- Once you have your list of thoughts, start looking for themes or common threads. What messages keep coming up? What are the things you wish you had known or done differently when you were younger?
- Use these themes and messages as inspiration for a song. Write a verse or chorus that expresses what you would tell your younger self. You can use your own voice or the voice of your inner child, depending on what feels most authentic and meaningful to you.
- Don’t be afraid to get personal and vulnerable with this exercise. It’s okay to share your regrets, your fears, and your hopes. This is your chance to speak to your younger self in a way that you never could before, and it can be a powerful way to connect with your past and find inspiration for your music.
Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to do the Inner Child Exercise – it’s all about what feels authentic and meaningful to you. So take your time, be gentle with yourself, and see where your inner child takes you. Who knows – you might just end up with a beautiful, heartfelt song that speaks to your soul. So go ahead and give it a try – you might be surprised at the insights and inspiration that emerge when you connect with your inner child.
