Keeping Your Inner Light Switch On
In the tapestry of life, we often overlook the most profound source of guidance—the sacred light within ourselves. Imagine your body as an inner light bulb, with the power to toggle between on, off, and dimmer settings. This simple analogy has the potential to transform how we navigate our daily existence.
Admittedly, amid some unconscious fear, I find myself repeatedly flicking my inner light switch to 'off,' causing a veil of darkness to obscure my path. In those moments, I lose sight of my direction along with the dreams I aim to manifest. Instead of trusting my inner light, I often seek answers from external sources—friends, acclaimed thought-leaders, and books
Now looking back at the chapters of my life, I am discerning a pattern — that my most consistent flow of success emerges when I commit to putting my inner work first. In other words the path to my highest potential and external achievements come are most easily manifested through the internal.
It’s here where I stumbled upon a revelation that resonates deeply with the principles of Taoist internal alchemy, namely, that inner expansion must precede external activities. The essence of this ancient wisdom speaks to the importance of returning to the source in order to rediscover our authentic self.
In our bustling modern world, the ancient wisdom of Taoism reminds us of the potency of our inner work. Taoist thought, deeply rooted in the pursuit of harmony with the Tao, or the fundamental nature of the universe, posits that true power is not about exertion but about alignment with a state of inner being. Paradoxically, in order to gain outer power, one must cultivate inner strength.
The concept of 'doing your inner work' is not about active striving; it is about the art of non-doing, or Wu Wei, which implies an effortless action that is in harmony with the flow of life. This idea resonates with the timeless lyrics of The Beatles: “Let it be, let it be, let it be, whisper words of wisdom, let it be.”
Such words echo the Taoist practice of emptying the mind to align with the Divine, akin to stepping into the void, embracing stillness, and allowing the mind to rest in a state of non-thought.
This inner game is not about standing still in a literal sense but about cultivating an internal stillness that allows life to unfold naturally. It's about understanding that inner strength is the foundation of outer power, aligning one's inner world with the external reality.
Taoism advocates for 'doing less' thereby creating space for 'Deep Work' on the self, a term popularized by productivity expert Cal Newport. This aligns with the mantra popularized by the financially savvy: "Pay yourself first."
In this context, it means prioritizing inner work before all else, recognizing that distractions such as social media and trivial disputes can drain our inner bandwidth.
Personal practices like Nadi, a concept from yoga that involves controlled breathing to influence the body's energetic currents, are practical applications of this philosophy. Through rhythmic breathing and specialized techniques, one can cultivate a physical embodiment of inner work, leading to a state of inner resonance characterized by lightness and a tingling sensation.
One’s inner state can be facilitated by various means, including music, coffee with raw cacao and L-Theanine, or a cold morning shower, all conduits to experiencing life as easy and effortless.
Keeping the inner light on embodies the importance of focusing on our inner landscape. We achieve this by consistently aligning our inner self with the outer world, and by embracing practices that promote energetic balance.
It’s here where we nurture a power that is not about dominance or control but about being in tune with the ebb and flow of existence. In the spirit of Wu Wei, it is through this inner work that we find the path to true power and wisdom, a journey not just of self-improvement but of heavenly self-realization.
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