Looking inward for a better world

We’re currently living in a highly emotionally intense society with political, social and environmental resistance. All of which are deeply connected and intersectional. 

It can be daunting to look at the uphill battle in front of us. When we look outward at the change that needs to be made and the social action that needs to be taken, we can easily feel overwhelmed. 

Before you dive into the rabbit hole of guilt, helplessness and insignificance that can easily overtake you when wanting to change the world, understand that looking inward is where change starts.

Self-reflection for a better world

By expanding our consciousness and our capacity for empathy and compassion, we can change the world. 

Before you decide to dash out the door and change everyone else, it’s critical to understand your place in society and your own string of consciousness. Become one with your thoughts, and reflect on your subconscious and your microaggressions. Understand where you contribute to the problem. 

If you think you’re not part of the problem, then think again. 

We have all grown up in a society that pushes their corrupt agendas on us. Whether that’s subconscious sexism, racism, ableism, ageism or anti-environmentalism, we all have so many constructs we have to reshape in our minds. 

To say that you aren’t included in this group of people who have to re-evaluate their subconscious beliefs means that you are part of the problem. Don’t get defensive. There’s nothing wrong with having this realization. In fact, this knowledge is the first step in inspiring change. 

The journey of inner work 

Inner work is the true alchemy; to turn your pain and shadow into power. By diving deep and understanding where we are flawed and where we are hurt, only then can we turn this energy around and use it for the greater good. 

Inner work requires you to go down the journey of self-discovery and transformation. It’s not an easy feat, but is extremely rewarding for yourself and the outside world. 

Your inner self is made up of your thoughts, beliefs, social constructs, memories, prejudices, shadows and mental conditioning. It’s everything you have endured and everything that has shaped you. 

By doing your own inner work, you’re able to move past your limitations and fears that you could be perpetuating onto other people and causing a negative domino effect in society. 

Steps to doing your own inner work

There’s not one single way to shape your shadow self and dive into your own inner work. It’s about intuition and knowing how to tap into your own consciousness. But, if that journey sounds confusing, then here’s a few places to start:

1. Meditation

Developing a meditation practice is the first step to looking within. While most people believe meditation is about completely quieting the mind, it’s actually about detaching yourself from your thoughts and observing them. 

When you take the time to quiet your mind and watch the thoughts that pop up, you can develop a deeper understanding of your consciousness and mental capacity. If you notice some thoughts that you don’t like, then that’s where you should start your inner work. 

2. Journaling

Writing down your thoughts is an amazing way to understand them. Write about what upsets you in this world. Write about how you have contributed to these injustices whether directly or indirectly. Write about how your privilege has given you an out from experiencing these problems. Write about your emotions. Write about everything that comes to your mind.

Journaling is an incredibly powerful tool to make sense of your thoughts. Once you understand what’s going on in your mind, you can start to shape your consciousness. 

3. Educate yourself

Whatever you want to change in this world, be sure to educate yourself on it. Knowledge is power and is sure to shape your consciousness. You have to want to learn and you have to prioritize self-education. 

If you’re unsure how your privilege affects this world, then Google privilege (which includes race, socioeconomic, religion, gender and sexuality). If you’re unsure about systematic racism, then a swift Google search will give you all the answers you need. Or, an educational documentary; 13th on Netflix is a great place to start.  

Closing thoughts...

Change starts with you, and it starts with understanding our own consciousness. Once you dive in, make sure you commit to doing the work to changing your thoughts. Your thoughts are powerful and fuel your actions, so don’t underestimate the power of doing the inner work to change the outside world.