What is inner work?
When I engage with inner work, I journey inwards to explore my psyche, with the intention of cultivating self-awareness, self-connection and emotional growth. Examples of inner work practices include meditation, mindfulness, belief system exploration and somatic exercises that strengthen the mind-body connection.
What is process-oriented inner work?
Process-oriented inner work brings awareness to internal change processes that are already organically occurring but which we tend to ignore or reject because of our beliefs, social conditioning, subconscious patterns and fears. By bringing unconscious material into consciousness, process-oriented inner work can show me the edges of my identity and invite expansion. It supports me to tune in to my inner wisdom and also to the field around me – to a greater wisdom. It’s not about changing so that I become someone else – it’s about becoming more myself.
What does it look like in practice?
Inner work practices developed within the process-oriented paradigm honour each individual’s unique sensory experience by calling on a range of creative and somatic strategies. In practice, this might look like:
Noticing feelings, thoughts and beliefs that I identify or align with (“this is me”) and those I avoid or reject (“that is not me”).
Tracking body sensations and their connections to thoughts and feelings.
Being curious about my immediate and transforming sensory experience, to discover the deeper needs and signpost the path ahead.
Using imagination, mindful body awareness, movement, sound, role-play, creativity and art practices to embody different aspects of myself.
Exploring and gaining awareness of patterns, internal and external conflicts, and the messages in my movement tendencies and dreams.
What are the benefits of process-oriented inner work?
As I connect more with my authentic self and learn to trust my inner wisdom, I have found my capacity to manage external change has also grown, empowering me to move through life with more energy and confidence, and make decisions that are aligned with my values. I have been able to challenging limiting beliefs, identify and change habitual patterns and responses, and I have greater capacity to give love and compassion to myself and others. Focusing on my sensory experience by noticing and tracking body sensations also supports nervous system awareness and regulation, and empowers me to engage with my inner world with compassionate curiosity rather than judgement.
While a regular inner work practice can build resilience and sustain personal growth, I see it as a supplement to rather than a replacement for professional psychotherapeutic support. If you feel ‘stuck’ or your nervous system is consistently overwhelmed or activated without resolution, please seek help from a psychotherapist, counsellor, psychologist, somatic practitioner, trauma specialist or appropriate support group.
If you’re curious to learn more about process-oriented inner work, head to my YouTube channel where you’ll find a free library of short, guided inner works and mindfulness practices.
Image credit: Alena Ozerova