That Shift In Awareness
All of us are on some kind of journey. We’re all heading somewhere, looking for something.
As the main characters of our own stories, our missions are our purpose. Whether it’s a physical location, a new station in life, another person, or a sense of security, we move toward that thing every day in some way.
Those journeys, however, are often externally focused.
We are on a diet, for example, because we want to maintain a healthy weight.
We exercise so our bodies can function at the highest potential, and so that we may look better.
We strive in our work to attain a promotion or more money or recognition.
So, what of our internal missions? Where are we going when it’s just us, alone in our bodies and minds?
What inner work are we doing to keep our head and heart healthy?
I have been exploring this in great depth recently, now that my life is in the midst of massive change and transformation. What I keep returning to is the absolute importance of inner work in any form.
Whether it’s breathing or meditation, movement and play, intellectual stimulation or being in the company of positive people, whatever we can do to take care of our inner selves early and often is worth every moment.
As I have been investing more on my inner peace, I’m finding that people see it too. They are saying that my voice sounds different, that I look healthier, or that I carry myself differently. While other people’s perspective of me is external validation, their comments are letting me know that something about my shift toward inner peace is working.
Inner work, like anything we dedicate ourselves too, takes time, practice, and patience. I’ve also found that inner work is much more incremental than other kinds of personal practices and habits.
Inner work is subtle and gentle. It’s listening and observing, versus expounding and pontificating. It’s that shift in awareness when you’re in a hurry, and then you stop to remind yourself that there is only time and that it all depends on how you move with it.
It’s that look in the mirror reminding yourself that you love you and that you’re enough.
It’s that moment of pause in between stressors to reconnect with your humanity, to assuage the inner critic, and to calm the nervous system.
And the best part about inner work is that it’s all yours. You and you only. Spend time there. Cultivate it. Learn from it. Savor it. You deserve it.
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Photo by Alexis Baydoun on Unsplash
