INNER WORK
Continued from page 9
work is an awakening of our consciousness, for it is only through that awareness that we reconnect to our genuine selves.
Through this reconnection, inner work is a process by which we shift our thoughts and intentions and thus take agency of our healing. This healing involves releasing what does not belong( the program I have inherited and been imbued with) and receiving what is returned( my own internal wisdom, connection to self / other).
A Westernized definition of inner work is largely connected to privilege. Specifically, if inner work is defined as something to“ go do” it is then reserved for those who can afford and / or have access to retreats / workshops( The Inner Activist, 2018). This singular definition of inner work disregards the countless cultural and historical nuances of how inner work can be approached. If we reclaim the definition of inner work as one that celebrates pathways of mind, body, and spirit( such as art, poetry, nature); connects us back to ancestral heritage and wholeness; and disrupts individual and societal oppression( particularly when each
“... inner work is a process by which we shift our thoughts and intentions and thus take agency of our healing.” person connects with inner work in a way that is meaningful and relevant to them), then inner work is accessible and relevant to all.
Relevance of Inner Work Today
“ The world is forced into a quietness that should have happened long ago, every day, all the time. A quietness of retreating into the knowledge of, and the acquaintance with, the mind, the heart.”- C. Joybell C.
Our brains are like computer hardware, while the messaging we receive from our world, starting in utero, is the software we are downloading every day. When the software we download is misaligned with the authentic self, we feel that discord, but the reticular activating system in our brain overrides that disconnect, telling us we need to accept this downloaded program to keep us safe. Some of our brain’ s old programs were once essential for safety, but when the original threat is no longer present, we must identify the outdated program and upgrade our brain’ s operating system. Inner work allows for this reacclimation.
Why are these upgrades essential? The research of Dr. Joe Dispenza( 2012) demonstrates that our thoughts and energy are creating our reality in every moment. Studies show the majority of us think 95 % of the same thoughts every day, a result of our downloading information, thus creating the same reality over and
Page 10 Fall 2020 CSEE Connections