The Journey Within

“Where your fear is, there is your task.”
~ Carl Jung

With places opening up after Covid, more people will be hitting the roads and taking to the skies this summer than they have in the past two years.

What are you looking forward to experiencing in the next few months?

Are you the adventurous type? Do you like vertical climbs that get your heart pounding? Or exploring mysterious, underground caves? Taking in the view from glass-bottom balconies at the top of a skyscraper?

For all the courage we have when it comes to exploring our amazing world, many of us are quite fearful when it comes to investigating our interior landscapes.

What is it, exactly, that makes us so afraid to look at ourselves?

A recent Daily OM post suggests that, “the feelings that make us want to run away are buried treasure full of energy and inspiration if we are willing to look.” Digging for them can help us to know ourselves better and to grow in awareness.

But still, we hesitate.

Yes, looking inside can be scary, and the path may be daunting at times. And exhausting. But it takes a lot of energy to not look at ourselves too, energy that could be put to better use.

How would your emotional journey be different if you thought about it as an adventure into your own interior? In his classic book The Seat of the Soul, Gary Zukav defines courage as “stretching ourselves beyond the limited perspectives of the frightened parts of our personalities.”

We are so much stronger than we believe!

To help quell our trepidations, we often look for travel tips before we venture to unknown lands. Perhaps we can apply some of that same advice to our internal quest:

Make a plan. Before we take off, we have to decide where we want to go, how long we want to stay, and what we want to do at each location. Then we select a route and decide where to start. Planning for introspection might seem unnecessary, but we can get more out of it if we do some thinking about it ahead of time. The first step is to decide what kind of excursion you want to take. Maybe you want to investigate a particular aspect of your personality that is causing you ongoing problems to see if you can get to the bottom of it. Maybe you’ve strayed too far from who you used to be and want to “excavate your authentic self,” as Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of Something More, calls it. Perhaps you finally feel ready to face some old trauma or unprocessed pain to reduce its impact on your life and relationships. Think about your goals, knowing you can always return if you find there’s more to see.

Set a date. No matter how much we fantasize about our trips, they never quite feel real until we set a date and purchase our tickets. Although it may not be necessary to set a particular date to begin your interior quest, it is important to look at the timing and make sure that you will be able to give it the focus it needs.

Enlist a companion. Do you like to travel solo, or enjoy having someone to share the expedition with you? The more dangerous the journey, the more it makes sense to have a guide. Think of the Sherpas in Nepal. If you know you are likely to encounter some dicey spots as you trek into your interior, consider bringing along a therapist, counselor, or wise friend to accompany you.

Pack just what you’ll need. A guide book, a backpack, a walking stick…all may be necessary for a physical hike. Similarly, a book about the exploration of your psyche, a list of questions to get to know yourself better, and a journal can enrich your personal expedition. Pack light. Mostly you’ll just need your enthusiasm and some determination. Leave room for some previously buried treasures you’ll want to bring back.

Dealing with the unexpected: Whether it’s traffic, a flat tire on the road, turbulence in the air, or a botched reservation, so often when we travel, there are events over which we have no control. It can cause anxiety, and lead us to ask, “How long will this take?” Or perhaps, “Will I get there at all?” Be patient, and know that turbulence passes, inner and outer.

Stretch. Decide in advance to push past your fears and stretch yourself based on what you find along the way. Open yourself up to new ideas and perspectives. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, try some deep breathing. These previous posts on self-reflection may help motivate you:

The Benefits of Self-Reflection
Boost Your Mental Immunity Through Reflection

Rest when you need to. Traveling can be tiring on many levels: physical, mental, and emotional. For a successful trip, it’s important not to overexert. Traversing rough terrain may stir up emotions that need to be processed. Make sure to pace yourself.

Record your progress. Just as it can be fun to track your steps, it can be helpful to journal along the way. In her book, The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, Julia Cameron suggests that writing three hand-written pages each morning can lead to a connection with a source of wisdom within. It can also provide you with an opportunity to look back at where you’ve been and feel pride at how far you’ve come.

Celebrate. After you’ve worked hard to gain some new realizations and started to think about how to initiate positive changes in your life based on what you’ve seen, it’s time to celebrate your accomplishment. If you enjoyed the self-exploration and want to continue the process, you may want to set aside time on a regular basis to travel within.

For inspiration, consider watching or re-watching Reese Witherspoon’s moving 2014 film Wild, about a woman’s journey of self-discovery. Or read the book Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed on which the movie was based.

Witnessing the fearless acts of others can often inspire us to get moving.

It’s never too late to get reacquainted with yourself. May you find the courage to look within, and to react to what you find there with compassion and understanding, so that you can become more fully who you are.

Affectionately,

Elaine