SO often I receive a timely message relating to my inner life, my inner self.
It may not have an immediate impact, for sometimes it percolates within, or I ponder it and almost imperceptibly the message begins to mean something important.
Or it can return to me later, like a flash of inspiration, an “aha” moment.
These timely, thought-provoking messages say more about the nature of God, who knows all — including my innermost thoughts and feelings — the compassion of Jesus, who walks with me, and the mysterious workings of the Holy Spirit within me, than it does about me.
Yet inevitably, it requires that I turn inwards to depth and accept the message.
There is inner work to be done.
Most of us want bigger, better, more abundant lives.
Yet we aren’t willing to do the serious inner work to break our existing limiting beliefs and painful stories to create room for the Spirit to fill us with the gifts of true transformation. It’s reasonable.
We are instinctually pleasure-seeking-pain-avoiding creatures.
Comfort is what we seek.
Society seems allergic to patience, and we’ve gotten used to immediate outcomes and instant notifications on our mobile phones.
Yet, building a better life best happens incrementally, day by day, one day at a time.
To develop your spirituality, the inner wisdom which fires your soul, requires inner work. Get to know your spiritual hero – your true self.
Listen more to the quieter whispers of your centre.
Get to the place where nothing can defeat you — your soul.
Strip away the ego.
Your soul cannot be defeated, it cannot be conquered.
Yet to spend fruitful time in the centre where God resides requires solitude.
Solitude is the saviour of your highest talent.
Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you, inspire you, guide you.
Solitude is not to be feared, for, after all, you are not alone.
Rather, it is a wonder that can be harnessed to lead to personal growth and self-awareness.
Solitude is the secret weapon of every world-class performer.
Spend some time every day in solitude, to get in touch with your inner self.
Get in touch with the beauty of nature, read and study Scripture, pray, meditate, count your blessings, give thanks to God for them.
Write down five things you are grateful for today.
Be loyal to your vision, values, and ideals.
For significant results meditate a few minutes each day.
Think of an affirmation, everything you’re grateful for, or your intention for the day, and sit quietly with it.
Use this silence to think about what you can do to live consciously today with your intention in mind.
Solitude produces deep thinkers.
The wise Apostle St Paul prays that God may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-20).
I love solitude and have found many physical and psychological benefits to spending time alone.
Solitude allows me to reboot my brain and unwind.
Being by myself with no distractions gives me the chance to clear my mind, focus, and think more clearly.
It’s an opportunity to revitalise my mind and body at the same time.
Solitude provides an opportunity to discover yourself and find your own voice. Solitude helps you work through problems more effectively.
It’s hard to think of effective solutions to problems when you’re distracted by incoming information.
Solitude can enhance the quality of your relationships with others.
By spending time with yourself and gaining a better understanding of who you are and what you desire in life, you’re more likely to make better choices about who you want to be around.
You also may come to appreciate your relationships more after you’ve spent some time alone.
In the Bible there are many examples of where Jesus went off to a secluded place to be alone and to pray.
He even said to his Apostles: “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
Doing the inner work is how you liberate yourself from your past circumstances. It’s a process of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and liberation.
It creates a shift within your field and allows you to develop a true sense of inner strength.
The more of your energy you dedicate to your inner work, the greater the rewards. And from there, anything is possible.
Remember — the Spirit of God is with you.
Have a golden day, look inwards and treasure life.
Terry Lees is a member of the Mount Isa Catholic parish.
