Ghost Children

August 7, 2017

Yesterday, I watched a repeat of Oprah's Super Soul Sunday featuring Geneen Roth.  During the interview, Geneen mentioned "ghost children."  Another blogger explained these this way:

"As Oprah explained it, these are the parts of ourselves that were developed in the early years of our lives. The unhealed parts that believe we're not enough because somewhere in life we didn't get what we needed so we try to meet those unmet needs with food. Ghost children are the stories we repeatedly tell ourselves: I'm not good enough; I'm unlovable; I'm not worthy. The parts of ourselves we want comforted. And because food is meant to fuel our bodies and not our minds or hearts, it's never enough. And the cycle of destruction never ends."

Geneen said our ghost children need to be named (her example, "Left-out Lucy"), and I agree.  On my journey, it's important for me to know the empty spaces that I'm trying to fill. 

She also said, when asked by Oprah about how to find the path to one's self, that it's the thing right in front of you, and often that is through food. And that this is a spiritual issue.  That makes sense.

Finally, Geneen's three words for us:  "Be unspeakably kind" to ourselves and these ghost children, who are showing themselves, showing us, through their path.

I'm naming my ghost children this week.

Here's a link to more interview clips on YouTube.