Module 1 – Worksheet 4: Voices I Inherited – and What I Want to Keep
Exploring the beliefs I carry from my own childhood
Introduction
Every parent carries an invisible backpack. It’s full of phrases we heard, rules we absorbed, and emotional tones we lived in. Some of these help us. Others hold us back. This worksheet invites you to name those inner voices—not to blame, but to choose which ones still serve you and which can be gently released.
Awareness is the first step to freedom.
Section 1: What Did I Hear Growing Up?
1. When I think about discipline or “good behavior,” I often hear…
“Children should be seen and not heard.”
“You’re too sensitive.”
“Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.”
_”Be strong.”
“Don’t talk back.”
✍️ Write down 2–3 phrases you remember from childhood about behavior, emotions, or obedience:
2. What emotional tone surrounded mistakes in my home?
☐ Shame
☐ Anger
☐ Silence
☐ Forgiveness
☐ Problem-solving
3. How did adults respond when I was upset or out of control?
☐ Comfort and closeness
☐ Dismissal or minimization
☐ Punishment
☐ I was left alone
☐ I’m not sure
Section 2: What Do I Believe Now?
4. When my child misbehaves or breaks a rule, my first instinct is to…
☐ Control the situation
☐ Yell or get tense
☐ Avoid it
☐ Try to understand
☐ Freeze
5. Which of my automatic reactions do I recognize as inherited – not chosen?
6. What do I want my child to believe about emotions and mistakes?
Reflective Prompt:
Write a “new message” you’d like your inner voice to say when things get tough.
Ex: “It’s okay to pause.”
Ex: “You’re allowed to grow, too.”
Ex: “This is hard, and you’re doing your best.”
✍️ My new inner message:
Closing Prompt:
“I am not here to be a perfect parent. I am here to be a conscious one.”