Consequently, I do not substi-tute unconditional love for my inner child with expensive cars or stereo systems. I do not stuff my feelings inside a closet crammed with clothes or gadgets. My abundant inner power fills me with peace of mind.

He is convinced that if anyone discovered who he really is, he would be rejected.

My curiosity was not okay, for I was constantly reproached, “Get your hands off that! Keep your hands to yourself!” Soon I learned to look but not touch. I learned my lesson well. Now as an adult, I keep the world at an arm’s distance. I observe rather than engage in life. My reticence about reaching out has kept me disconnected from myself, my env

I know that when I let myself be driven by these inner voices, I am still trying to please an unseen audience from my past.

I devote one whole day to taking care of myself.

27—STRUCTURE I provide my inner child with structure. A pair of swallows returns every year to the cubbyhole in the eaves of my porch. They make thousands of trips to build a mud nest for the anticipated arrival of their young. They share in the foundations of their future. In my family, it was hard to build a foundation for the future. Fear of pas

The fears of my inner child are still with me. They provide the dark materials for my imagination to dwell upon. Often I become obsessed with thoughts of disaster.

Today I will affirm my right to give sexual pleasure to myself. I will allow myself to explore all my nooks and crannies, to get to know myself on this erotic plane. When I know myself sexually, I can share my knowledge with others to create successful sexual relationships.

24—HOLIDAYS I create a holiday season that is special. As the sounds of the holiday season surround me, so does the dissonance of past memories—painful memories that make me wish the season would pass by without my knowledge, without my participation. Today I will make plans so that this holiday season will be mine and special. I will decide what I