Latest posts by Pablo Leon (see all)
- Life’s Wounds and the Sacred Dance of Transformation - 16 September 2023
- 5 Unmistakable Signs You Need a Mental and Emotional Cleanse Now! - 14 August 2023
- Influence or Be Influenced: Mastering Your Environment to Unleash Your True Self - 13 August 2023
The Crucial Role of Intention in Spiritual Journey
Our journey into the vast expanses of self-discovery begins with a simple, yet profound act: the setting of an intention. This is not just a casual wish or a fleeting desire, but a strong commitment—a purpose that sets the course for the expedition into our inner universe. Eckhart Tolle, the renowned spiritual teacher, suggests, “Your outer journey may contain a million steps; your inner journey only has one: the step you are taking right now.” The intention is that step—it’s the compass that points us to the direction of our inner evolution.
It is the intention that prepares us for the transformation ahead. It’s the declaration to ourselves that we are ready to journey inwards, ready to embrace the challenges and savor the revelations that come with it. Just as a ship cannot set sail without a destination, our spiritual journey cannot truly begin without an intention.
The Role of a Higher Power in Meditation
The journey of self-discovery is more than just introspection. It’s about expanding our awareness and opening ourselves up to the infinite possibilities that lie within us. To truly connect with our inner selves, we need to embrace the concept of a higher power—a greater force that guides and inspires us.
This higher power can take many forms—it could be the Universe, God, consciousness, love, wisdom, or any other entity that resonates with you. It’s this power that lights the way when our path seems uncertain, that offers us comfort and guidance when we feel lost or alone.
The famous spiritual author Marianne Williamson once wrote, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” By opening up to the higher power, we acknowledge and embrace our infinite potential. This openness forms a critical component of our spiritual journey, gently guiding us towards enlightenment and self-realization.
The Importance of Internal Transparency in Meditation
Transparency, in the spiritual realm, is about raw authenticity. It’s about seeing ourselves without masks, without filters, and without excuses. We often guard ourselves from our own truths, build walls around our emotions, and run away from our own realities. But internal transparency challenges us to reverse this—to look at our own reflections and not shy away from what we see.
Internally transparent people can observe their thoughts and emotions objectively, without judgment. This quality is fundamental for meditation, as it allows us to introspect with honesty and openness. Noted mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn asserts, “Mindfulness is the aware, balanced acceptance of the present experience… It means being honest in acknowledging what we are feeling.”
This internal confession, this willingness to see ourselves as we truly are, paves the way for profound self-understanding and transformation. By accepting our own truths, we set ourselves free from the constraints of fear, doubt, and denial. We start seeing things clearly, thus enabling us to chart a more accurate path towards our spiritual goals.
Voicing the Inner Self: The Importance of Expression in the Inner Journey
An important aspect of the inner journey is the awakening of dormant energies within us. These energies can take various forms—emotions, thoughts, memories, or spiritual sensations. The key to navigating through this awakening is to allow these energies to express themselves freely.
Self-expression, in this context, is about giving a voice to our innermost feelings and experiences. This can be achieved through various means—vocalizing, moving, breathing deeply, dancing, chanting mantras, and more. This open expression of energy acts as a conduit, helping us connect more deeply with ourselves.
As spiritual teacher and author, Michael A. Singer, suggests in his book “The Untethered Soul”, “Spiritual growth is the process of inner awakening, rising of consciousness beyond the ordinary existence, and the realization of the inner spirit as the true self.” This awakening, this realization, is made possible when we express ourselves without restrictions or inhibitions.
How Expression Leads to Healing and Transformation
One of the most profound discoveries we make in our inner journey is that healing is intrinsically linked to expression. As we delve deeper into our inner realms, we inevitably encounter elements of our past, emotions, traumas, or thought patterns that may have been suppressed or ignored.
The key to healing is to allow these elements to surface, to give them a voice, to let them express themselves. This expression doesn’t necessarily need words. It could be a dance, a song, a tear, a smile, or even a silent acknowledgment. This is where the therapeutic power of expression comes into play—it’s cathartic, transformative, and healing.
As the renowned psychotherapist Carl Rogers said, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” By freely expressing our inner self, we are accepting ourselves in our entirety. This acceptance is healing—it’s liberating. It is the culmination of our spiritual journey, the point where we transcend our limitations and truly connect with our essence.
The Journey Continues
As we venture on the path of self-discovery and spiritual growth, we find that the journey is not linear. It spirals, bends, ascends, and sometimes even seems to move backwards. Yet, every step, every phase, is an integral part of this beautiful journey.
By setting an intention, opening up to a higher power, embracing internal transparency, and allowing self-expression and healing, we begin to unlock the true potential of our inner selves. These steps aren’t merely techniques or methods; they are profound experiences that transform us, bringing us closer to our true nature.
In this journey, every breath, every moment of silence, every tear, every smile is a meditation in itself. As spiritual master Rumi rightly said, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” In the journey within, we heal, we grow, and most importantly, we begin to see the light—the light of our own being.
