I thought it best to make inner discernment the introductory post in this series of inner work. Why start here? It’s important to realise that no program, procedure or process should be followed dogmatically. We should at times check in with our own hearts to see if whatever we are doing is actually aligning on a deeper level.
I’ve said this before, but I will say it again: Life is not about following a bunch of automated steps towards some predetermined goal. If you live life like that, just waiting for the next car, relationship, ice-cream, or weekend in front of the TV, stop. Stop and reflect. Become present. We have a finite amount of time on Earth. Ask yourself this: What would I like to create? What would I like to build? What did I come here to do? What is my true purpose?
We are not zombies. Don’t live like it. Nothing is to be followed in a dogmatic fashion. However, that’s not to say that we shouldn’t be consistent. As far as inner work is concerned, we should aim to be impeccably consistent. Inner work is difficult. We should not decide to give up at the slightest challenge. Conversely, we should also not push for growth to the point where it becomes destructive.
Discernment might be difficult at the start. It might be that you have a tendency to make excuses. Or, it might be that you have a tendency to try to do too much too soon. This is precisely why this is the first article in the series. We must become aware of our own tendencies. Here’s a good rule of thumb: Err on the side of doing less so that you can attend to the work daily. It’s better to do twenty minutes of meditation daily as opposed to five hours on Saturdays. This is the case for many things in life.
But even this rule isn’t a rule. It depends on where you are and what you’re dealing with. Inner discernment requires awareness. It requires utter honesty. No excuses. It might require you to buy a journal to document a few things. It might require you to listen to a spouse once in a while. It might require you to be gentle. The latter is especially the case when you’re processing difficult emotions. Conversely, if you’re dealing with an addictive tendency, it might be necessary to be impeccably firm in your commitment to abstain.
Inner Work Practices
What are some inner work practices that are beneficial:
- Reading
- Dreamwork
- Journalling about emotions
- Meditation
- Somatic work
- Breathwork
I would choose two or three things from the list and commit to them for a few months at least. My personal favourites are dreamwork, meditation and reading, but I’ve found that releasing deep trauma required breathwork and somatic work.
I personally don’t recommend breathwork or somatic work to people who are just starting on their journey. Both of these can bring up repressed emotions. One needs to be exceptionally grounded, present, and mindful to meet surfacing repressed emotions. I recommend starting with meditation. But again, inner discernment is required.
If I had to recommend a few things
I always like to think that I’m writing these posts for a younger version of myself. And so, my recommendation to my younger self would be this:
Read daily. Read one hour at least. Two hours is better. Three is great. Read daily no matter what. Why do I recommend this? The main reason is that it counters the negative messaging pouring from screens. We are swimming in a sea of BS when it comes to screens. This is true for shows, videos, news, the list goes on. The irony that I’m writing this on the internet isn’t lost on me. But the fact remains: If you can get yourself to read three hours per day, you will completely counterbalance the negative effects of the online narratives infused with blame, outrage, and fear. Negativity isn’t just online. We’re constantly confronted with cynicism, irritation, irrationality, and anger in our daily lives. Why should we be influenced by people who clearly do not know how to process their negative emotions? Why should we be swept along by people who constantly explode their inner garbage into the world? It is much better to spend time with the writings of an old master or a spiritual teacher. In fact, it’s much better to read a mediocre whodunnit than it is to be indoctrinated by ideas of victimhood and fear.
Meditate twice per day. Be utterly consistent with this. Meditation is a way to purify our storehouse consciousness. I don’t think it was a coincidence that I effortlessly made healthy changes when I started meditating in 2009.
After a few months of consistent reading and meditation, consider doing some yoga or breathwork. Light yoga for twenty minutes per day. Document this process. See what surfaces. Or, you can consider reading Michael Brown’s The Presence Process. The Presence Process incorporates daily breathwork for ten weeks. I would actually classify the water sessions (at weeks 7, 8, and 9) as somatic work, but that’s just my own classification. The important thing here is consistency and responsibility. The first time I did a breathwork session, a flash of a memory surfaced and I cried for hours afterwards. This is the power of breathwork. Be responsible.
Final thoughts
The procedure mentioned above might not work for everyone. If you are in a position where you have some physical problem, say low back pain that is manifesting because of repressed emotions, you might have to work on that first. Inner discernment.
The question of how inner blockages manifest as outer ailments is a huge topic. Suffice it to say there’s a connection. I know that the staunch materialists might not agree. It matters not. I have seen this to be true. We have an energy body in addition to a physical body. These two are connected.
Finally, we live in a society that is profoundly ungrounded. This causes huge issues in legs, knees and feet. Being ungrounded immediately makes one more prone to over-thinking. This is a strong tendency in our modern world. Grounding is the topic of the next post.