Look Within- What does that mean? Try this..
Does it sometimes feel like your body is rebelling against you with random tightness or aches? Do you feel tense or anxious, but you’re not sure why exactly? Well you are not alone my friend. I have had the experience of feeling anxiety that I cannot quite place and then realizing later it was just energy. But it took me a while to come to a place of peace and understanding with my own body signals. So I wanted to explore the question how can we be more present to ourselves and share a tool I use for tuning inwards, to support you in accessing your own guidance with a practice of presence or “Looking within”
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TRY THIS: Before you dive into my thoughts and suggestions I would invite you to pause (breathe, always a good thing) and reflect; When you hear the words “look within” what does this mean to you? Take your time with this- there is no right answer, there’s only what is true for you in this moment.
If you’re anything like me, I find it helpful to keep some notes. So grab a pen and paper or notebook, and write everything down that comes to you. I keep mine with me when I’m meditating and find it tremendously helpful.
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Looking within is a phrase that appears in so many spiritual contexts, including a variety of faiths. We even get a sense of tuning inwards from popular culture, with phrases like follow your instinct, your gut or hunches. Personally I had some misconceptions about this guidance and even some resistance; like “alright already, I get it, look inwards.. check… now what?” It was a source of frustration for me, knowing to look within but not knowing how to do this. For the longest time I thought “looking within” meant just to think harder or become more analytical. Rather, with practice, I found that looking within was a combination of “relocating” my presence or consciousness physically, coupled with a quietness of mind.
I admit that less thinking is not my default setting! So I practiced letting go of the busy thoughts or anxious feelings, relaxing my muscles bit by bit despite my mind/body protestations to each of these steps. Then being open and curious about what I felt in my body.
The ‘relocation’ within can be supported with imagery, such as an elevator starting at your head and descending one floor at a time. As an example, I follow the general location of the chakras; I may start at the crown of my head and then lower my focus to the third eye, and slowly descend into my throat region, the heart space and all the way to the root chakra. I try to pause at each stop and give myself a few beats or breaths to notice and observe what I feel. This can be challenging, and you may hit a few emotional stumbling blocks or energetic residuals, this is normal. This is an invitation to greater awareness of what’s going on in your body. It is a means of fortifying the mind-body connection and allowing you to bring your kind-attention* to what your body needs in this moment. (* Be kind to yourself as you do this)
You do not have to go through all 7 stops in one sitting. You may just focus on a particular area, going as far as you would like so long as you are relaxed and comfortable. It is not uncommon to notice tightness as you move through your chest, core and pelvic floor; these are areas we often “hold our stress”. See if you can release tension around these areas, noticing anything that bubbles up, including songs, words, memories, images, situations or people. The information can come in various forms and through different senses, so I would encourage patience and flexibility. Often if you sit with the tension (and whatever bubbles up), really sit in it, it will release without force or effort. Honestly, this can feel somewhat unpleasant but if I allow and relax I find the payoff is greater clarity and/or release. So it’s worth the momentary discomfort! If you find you’re straining or forcing- stop and take a break. The goal is to befriend your body with kindness not force.
This is a truly powerful practice- it can help you to navigate situations, release energy/tension in your body and connect you more deeply with your own intuition. Giving yourself a moment of stillness is also a gift; both to yourself and to others. It’s a reset that invites you to remember who you are, where you are, how you feel, and what you need, allowing you to show up more authentically. As you do this, you wordlessly invite others to do the same. It also invites your parasympathetic nervous system to take the leading role; supporting your body’s functions, aiding in digestion, bolstering your immunity and boosting your healing.
Feel free to share your thoughts and personal practices for “Looking Within” by adding your comments.
Everyone is unique in their style or approach so sharing your thoughts may help others like you!