journey within
what if the best thing we can do for the world right now is each, on an individual level, journey into ourselves? for discovery and for seeking balance. what if that was the way to break the cycle of disaster and reaction that we see in the world and in our personal lives as well?
the problems of the world are very loud these days, and we’re tempted to remain in a constant cycle of reaction to outside stressors and demands. this affords little time to pay attention to the inner world, and the lack of understanding we have of ourselves can leave us feeling very empty whether we acknowledge it or not. we further play into this cycle of depletion by seeking to fill the void with external pacifiers such as entertainment, food & drink, appearances, acquiring things. while activities such as these are a tasty and necessary part of life (we are here to enjoy it, after all), they aren’t the solution to the inner discontentment that leaves us wanting more or feeling like we haven’t done enough.
the discontentment is a muffled cry from the inner garden that bubbles up through subconscious feelings. we have a rich and potent inner world that often remains unexplored because the outer world keeps us too busy to reconnect within. sitting in neglect, this inner realm can actually become quite overgrown, and can be the perfect environment for all sorts of creatures to run amok. if you are familiar with Brené Brown’s work around shame & vulnerability (if not, I highly recommend it)- the “shame gremlin” is the sort of creature that comes to mind. the more we witness these creatures, or unhelpful thought patterns, we realize they are aspects of ourselves that with time, patience, attention & compassion we can love into wholeness.
by looking inward, exploring our depths and tending to ourselves with honestly and love, we can foster a thriving inner world that is both a sanctuary and a friend. the relevance of all of this personal work to the outer world is that research increasingly points to the influence of the inner world of the mind over the outer world of experience.
there’s a lot i want to get into, over time, in regards to the concept that the mind and the way we perceive the world actually shapes reality. scientists cite wave particle theory, spiritualists call it manifestation, Christians are told, “seek and you shall find” (Matthew 7:7). historian Yuval Noah Harari in the highly acclaimed Sapiens speaks to the ways in which collective belief upholds entire paradigms such as the current monetary system, and without such worldwide buy-in, these systems would cease to exist. the double slit experiment in quantum physics indicates that the intention of an observer directly influences the framework of the reality they observe.
perhaps our focus is more powerful than we can imagine. and perhaps the collective energy of our unaddressed discontentment ripples out into the world through millions of tiny thoughts, actions & interactions. if we can balance the mind within, we can pull our attention back from the cycle of reaction & distraction and begin to perceive life in a more fruitful light.
many people who meditate regularly have reported experiencing a deep sense of peace, clarity, and a feeling of being connected with or in control of life. mindfulness practices of all sorts seem to invoke inner journeys which result in meaningful personal revelations and positive change. those who have undertaken a spiritual awakening of any kind report a sense of connectedness that came with finding their iteration of god/source/self. what if the key to living the life of your dreams lies in being in compassionate relationship with yourself? what would that journey look like?
what if the responsibility is on each individual to bring themselves to peace for the purpose of increasing the percentage of peace in the world?
in my opinion, it’s worth the consideration. there’s no time like the present, and there’s certainly no time like this present.
this can be a really fun and beautiful journey! nothing to shy away from in fear and perhaps also nothing to brush aside either... we shall see. either way, I know every step taken is an opportunity for growth. I look forward to walking alongside you.
always,
emily