Spiritual Healing with Inner Work Practices

Inner work is the foundation of going within, it represents our psychological landscape and our mental and emotional connection to our inner self and to our outer world. It is the first step on the path to healing.

Inner work is an all-encompassing part of the spiritual journey. It starts with inner work, and practices such as self-love, affirmations, and gratitude. Then as we progress, we evolve into deeper Inner Work Practices, such as inner child, shadow/archetypes and soul work. 

Before starting inner work, it is important to have a positive mindset to be ready for the journey within. The journey can get dark and tricky at times as we uncover hidden memories and release fears and doubts. With a healthy self-esteem and a gratitude or affirmation practice to release negative thoughts, we can build inner strength for the journey.

Practicing inner work allows us to consciously engage with our inner being and deeply explore our thoughts, emotions, beliefs and behavior patterns. With self-reflection, we can identify and eliminate the blockages and conflicts that take place within that obscure our soul’s inner light. 

Engaging in inner work facilitates self-awareness, helping us understand our thoughts and emotions and navigate the painful experiences we have had throughout our life. By looking within, we can reshape and transform our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, freeing ourselves from the illusions of fear. We can find a true path to healing, expansion, and spiritual growth. 

Although the changes we experience as a result of inner work flow outward to our physical world, inner work itself involves internal changes within our inner landscape. It represents the transformation that occurs within as we dissolve past traumas, pains and negative thoughts and detach from the wounds, beliefs and behavior patterns associated with them. 

Inner work empowers us to recognize our triggers and take appropriate action, to make honest choices that align with our inner self. We engage our inner power as we honor our personal beliefs and no longer conform to our survival fears and what others “think” we should be. We find our purpose and align our lives in this way, creating a peaceful and balanced life. 

If you are considering an inner work practice, please know that inner work is not a light switch, nor is it a one-time thing, and all is good. Inner work is a long-term commitment to healing from within. Going deep to heal psychological and emotional wounds from the past, identifying fears, shadows, tribal beliefs and negative behaviors and dissolving the hold these patterns have over many aspects of our lives. It is a journey, not a race. 

What is Self-Love?

Although many refer to self-love as the appreciation of oneself, it goes much deeper than this. Self-love is loving who you are in every way. It is practicing acceptance, respect and forgiveness with our perfect and imperfect parts, our strengths and our weaknesses, our wounds and our scars. 

Self-love also represents honoring our limitations, setting boundaries, and taking care of our physical health and our emotional well-being. Finding balance within mind, body and soul. 

Learning to love ourselves can be a difficult journey. We condition ourselves to believe the negative narratives that play on loop in our minds, things like we are not good enough or smart enough to achieve our dreams or secure success in our lives. 

We tell ourselves stories like I can’t change jobs because I will never get hired, I am not young enough or have enough education. As the damaging thought loop continues, we remain stagnant, getting further and further away from our true nature and purpose. 

We can take our power back and rediscover who we really are. Underneath all the negative talk are our fears, insecurities and negative tribal belief patterns. When we love ourselves, we have the ability to trust ourselves, allowing us to see beyond the illusions of our fears. 

Benefits of Self-Love

Self-love can cultivate inner strength, allowing us to view our experiences symbolically. We can release ourselves from the burden of the pain, understanding that every person and experience is put on our path to serve as a teacher on our journey. With this knowledge, we can retain the wisdom from the experience, our Soul Life Lesson.

In the emotional landscape, when we love ourselves, we have the ability to love others freely and authentically. Love starts within, at the core of our being. When we cultivate a loving relationship with ourselves, we develop self-esteem and self-confidence, we can accept our limitations with grace as well as the shortcomings of others. Fostering authentic connections and deeper relationships.

Self-love can provide a healthier mental landscape. As we foster authentic connections with ourselves and others we feel empathy, compassion, and understanding in a deeper way. We no longer feel the need to judge, and we find it easier to forgive ourselves and those around us. 

Inner Work Practices

Practicing self-love is an important tool on the inner work journey. Without a healthy self-esteem and self-worth, digging into the core of our being could be a dark time. As we get to the root cause of our fears, insecurities, tribal beliefs and negative behavior patterns we must face the truth of who we are and what we have become. 

Engaging with a self-love practice regularly can help build inner strength, confidence and self-esteem giving us the courage to endure the challenges of the journey. 

An affirmation is a positive statement we say aloud to manifest a desired outcome. Affirmations could be personal and specific such as cultivating patience, strength or endurance. Affirmations can also relate to a specific goal, such as starting your own business or going back to school for higher education.  

Frequently, intention and affirmation are used interchangeably. It is important to note the distinction between the two. An intention is a specific behavior or action that we want to initiate. It is the mental, emotional, or physical motivation that guides us towards our goal. 

Both are critical as you set an intention for the action you want to take to yield the desired outcome. The affirmation is the positive statement used to reinforce your beliefs, promoting confidence and self-assurance to manifest results. Together, they help you achieve your goals. 

For example, say you want to start a new business, your intention might be to create a business plan, while your affirmation might be “I am capable of creating a successful business.” By setting an intention and repeating an affirmation, you can help yourself stay focused and motivated towards your goals.

Bald Eagle

Trust your intuition and see the truth beyond the illusion. Know your worth and the value you bring into everything you do. Stay true to yourself and embrace what sets your soul on fire.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Take flight into the vast sky to expand your mental and spiritual awareness. With clear vision and greater insight, you can let go of fears and negative beliefs blocking your growth. Letting go leads to freedom and liberation of the soul.

Cooper’s Hawk

Trust your instincts, develop your insight and see things from a broader perspective. It’s time to ebb and flow and fly on the wings of change.

Wasp

It’s time to expect the unexpected, big changes and new beginnings are on the horizon. Stay focused and organized, you know your dream, now is the time to set the foundation, make your plan and take action. Ignite the power of your inner warrior, it’s time for a brand-new adventure!

Rabbit

It’s time to trust, have faith, and hop down the rabbit hole. Take the leap into unfamiliar surroundings and embrace the brand-new life and opportunities that await. We are never alone; the Rabbit reminds us that we always have our inner light for direction.

Dolphin

Like the ocean waves, my emotions flow freely and effortlessly. I trust and honor my feelings and embrace authentic connections with others and with myself.

Root Chakra: 

• I am safe and grounded.
• I am healthy and vibrant.
• I withstand the obstacles of life, as I remove what no longer serves me.

Sacral Chakra: 

• My emotions are free-flowing and balanced.
• I trust my feelings. I trust myself.
• I allow my creativity to flow freely.

Solar Plexus: 

• I am perfect, whole, and complete.
• I am fearless and full of courage. 
• I am strong, powerful, and confident.
• I am good enough.

Heart Chakra: 

• My heart is open to give and receive love.
• I feel compassion for myself and others.
• I accept myself as I am in this moment.

Throat Chakra: 

• I speak my truth freely and authentically.
• I speak and listen with equal awareness.
• I speak with authenticity, grace, and courage.

Third Eye Chakra: 

• I am guided by my intuition.
• My inner wisdom guides me to my highest good.
• I am open to the truths of the universe. 

Crown Chakra: 

• I surrender myself to the divine.
• I experience unity with all things.
• Divine light and love flow through me.