Going Inward...
“As we journey inward we reflect our light outward.” Baron Baptiste
The winter is a time to pull in. Our gardens wither and the grass turns brown. The days shorten, grow colder and we are forced inside. Into our homes and places of residence, spending more time in close contact with our families and communities. We turn to comfort foods and warm soups and heartier things that help us to feel rooted and grounded. This time of the year is also an opportunity to turn inward. To look inside and check our internal barometer to see how we are doing in life.
Our culture is so outwardly focused, this is a difficult time for many of us, as were not taught to sit still and go inward. This inner landscape is a frightening place for many. When we lead an externally focused life, we are not in touch with our feelings and therefore we tend to repress strong emotions and act out in order to get our needs met. Our lives have become so complicated and there are so many distractions “out there” to maintain our attention, it almost seems natural to constantly be outwardly focused. But we veer from the natural cycle of life when we allow ourselves to be constantly lured by the bells and whistles of the external world. Winter is invitation to do some internal housekeeping, if we can heed the call.
During this time of winter, I encourage you to make time to sit with yourself and go within. When we take time to sit and listen to our own internal workings we begin to know ourselves on a much more personal level. We begin to hear the faint whispers of our inner being and to cultivate an intimate relationship with our true needs and desires. Cultivating a relationship with our inner world helps us to feel when we are uncomfortable, restricted or things hurt, as well as when things feel free, open and joyful. With this knowing, we can begin to make healthier choices for ourselves in our relationships, homes, jobs and even things like our dietary habits.
Sitting and watching our thoughts helps us to see the fleeting nature of these thoughts, as well as the repetitive nature. Our thoughts are a reflection of our fears, and most often, these fears are not based in reality. Often they are birthed out of our insecurities, reflecting how we are not good enough, successful enough, thin enough, healthy enough, rich enough? If left unattended our thoughts perpetually wander to self criticism or judgement? These wanderings are trying to tell you something, and when you take the time to listen to them, they have very important information to give. It’s like a spotlight from your subconscious, illuminating what needs to be addressed, worked on or changed.
I invite you to take a few minutes each day to sit with your thoughts and take inventory of what they are trying to tell you. Focus briefly on your breathing to still your body and then just sit and pay attention to your thoughts and how you react to them. See if you can detach from them, imagining they are like clouds in the sky, allowing them to drift in and out of your consciousness. With practice, we learn that we are not our thoughts. But our thoughts bring with them very helpful information about our current state of being, if we take the time to listen. If our thoughts keep returning to a fear, judgement, or fantasy, take a little time to consider what might be cultivating these thoughts. Perhaps you might need to apologize to someone you love or finish a project you have been procrastinating or take time to face something you have been avoiding like your bills. As you befriend your thoughts and learn to use them as information instead of truth, you can learn to change your life for the better. It is the shifting from being a reactionary force in your life to being the source of your life’s creation. Good luck!
Happy New Year to each of you. I hope 2020 proves to be a truly illuminating year for us all.
Lara Kain, PA-C, MPAS
TORCH Center for Wellness