Nobody likes hanging out in a polluted, dank, uncomfortable place. Nobody likes hanging out in a place that brings up bad associations. The same is true when talking of the world around us and it is no less true when talking of the world within.
The direction I’m taking with this is pretty obvious: Do you find your inner world pleasing to your senses?
It’s not so simple a question, nor is the answer very easy either. When I am talking about your inner world, I’m not just talking about when you take the time for looking inside, but just how you feel being “in your own skin” so to speak. Every time a thought pokes into your mind and changes the direction of your thoughts, is it a welcome springboard for creativity, or a destructive jab that keeps you down?
The importance of the answer is that if you are running into resistance working on your inner world, it is entirely possible, that you don’t like the look/feel/sound/smell/taste of your inner world. This actually creates a self-perpetuating problem, as if you are already conditioned to avoid your inner world, it will continue to show neglect and wind up worse and worse. Conversely, if you have started to work on your inner world already, you may notice that your associations and impressions when you look inside.
If you are just getting started, then my suggestion is to clear out a little space for yourself, and then move forward from there. If you are familiar with creating an inner temple or “happy place” inside, then the procedure is basically the same.
- Find a quiet time and place, and relax. Close your eyes.
- Using your imagination, create a place of beauty. One that appeals to you and fills you with a sense of joy just being there. Remember that you don’t need to worry about “form vs. function”. The idea is to make it your place. This place will basically be a reflection of you, so include what really speaks to you. You may wish to include factors pertaining to your spiritual path such as a physical chapel, temple, or circle.
- Once you have it about where you want, imagine yourself there, immersed in the place and enjoying it.
- When you are ready, return your attention to the outside world.
This is just a basic outline. Christopher Penczak gives much more info in his works. The goal of this exercise is to create a bastion of beauty and happiness in your inner world for you to renew yourself. Even if you think that your life is terrible, even if you think that you aren’t worth it or that you’ll never “get it”, keep trying: As you learn to use this technique to replenish yourself, you can find the courage and energy to start chipping away at those walls of resistance. By creating this foothold, you begin to reclaim your inner world and restore it to its native beauty.
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