For a long time, well into early adulthood, I had never heard the words inner and safety together. I grew up in an environment where safety was often absent. No one ever spoke about inner safety or its importance. I never even considered that a sense of safety is one of our fundamental human needs. The foundation of inner safety is ideally built in childhood, but that wasn’t the case for me. And I know I’m not alone in this experience.

How did I begin to connect with inner safety?

The first time I read about inner safety from some self-help book. The words truly stopped me in my tracks and made me reflect. Later, during a therapy session, I started to unpack my thoughts on this topic. A whole new perspective opened up—safety is something I can and must create for myself. Inner safety can be cultivated at any stage of life.

True safety comes from within. It doesn’t stem from external circumstances, it is built internally. Even though inner safety is psychological, the feeling of safety is created within the body. Safety is a bodily experience—it is rooted in the nervous system.

There are many ways to cultivate inner safety in both body and mind. We build safety by being kind and compassionate towards ourselves. Allowing all emotions to surface, even the ones that feel difficult. Inner safety can hold space for every feeling. We create safety by respecting our own boundaries—saying no when necessary. Inner safety reassures us that we are worthy of good things and that we can allow ourselves to receive them every day.