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An inner nurturant parent protects the inner child.

Sometimes in life we may make choices that find no mirror of acceptance from anyone. Then, for the sake of our psychological and spiritual health, we need either to seek out a support system from which to receive mirroring or to stand alone and trust ourselves when there is no support to be found.

Mirroring happens when someone accurately reflects our feelings back to us with a warm welcome

There is a connection between freedom and self-confidence: When you are kept from expressing your deepest needs and wishes, you lose trust in their validity and in your own judgment. You survive by finding out the rules and following them, thus hiding what you really want. You make it your purpose in life to please others rather than to affirm yourself.