The Inside Really Does Create The Outside
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 
As I’m sure you know, some people doubt that personal growth work has practical benefits. Some scoff at the idea of working with our thoughts and emotions, seeing it as just a tree-hugging hippie way of escaping the harsh reality of survival and conflict. Others only see value in personal development work that teaches nonstop action, and don’t see much reason to spend time sitting alone with yourself.
Despite all the “inner work” I’ve done, sometimes even I become a skeptic. I’ve had moments in meditation when my mind has griped “what am I doing? I should be writing an article.” In the middle of a few weekend retreats, I’ve found myself wishing I could go home and explore different ways to expand my business.
Some “Down-To-Earth” Benefits of Spiritual Practice
What I forget in these moments is that I wouldn’t be able to do my “outer work” without the time I spend in my spiritual practices. I don’t just mean that meditation, yoga, taking workshops and so on help me feel peaceful and grounded, although they do. What I mean is that I actually have many of the ideas at the core of my writing in the midst of my inner work.
I had the idea to write my recent book, for instance, in the middle of a meditation. I’d written a book before called Path of the Demonslayer — a somewhat misguided attempt to combine the fantasy and self-help genres that I don’t plan to release. For a while afterward, I was wondering whether a decent book idea would ever come to me, until it suddenly appeared to me in a state of deep relaxation and mental quiet.
Another important point I want to make about inner work is that you can do it in real time – while you’re working, talking to your partner or doing other “real world” activities. You don’t have to sit in a lotus position, burn incense or go to a monastery to do it — as much as I enjoy doing those things.
One great example is the way that my spiritual practice helps me stay centered when I’m speaking to an audience. I used to get nervous and distractible in front of groups, until I got into the habit of focusing my attention on my body as I spoke, noticing the pressure of my feet against the ground. I borrowed this exercise from a meditation I do that has me slowly scan my attention over each part of my body, and it helped me to feel solid and focused as I gave my talks.
Defusing the Doubting Mind
What I’ve learned from these experiences is that “my inner world creates my outer world” isn’t just some New Age slogan — there’s clear evidence that it’s true in my life. Keeping these stories in mind is a great way to calm my cynical part whenever it pipes up during one of my practices.
I don’t mean to say that the only benefit of inner work is the “results” it gets you in the outside world. In fact, approaching meditation, yoga or a similar practice with the goal of getting richer, more attractive, or something like that would probably lead to suffering. But I have no doubt that spiritual practice, if we stick with it, has positive effects in our day-to-day lives.
Do you have stories about how your inner work has affected your outer world? I’m curious to hear them.
Link Love
David Cain has a subtle — almost subversive — way of relaying spiritual wisdom through anecdotes about his life and social commentary. His blog is a great read.
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 | If you found this post useful, you'll likely find Chris's book, Inner Productivity, helpful as well. Inner Productivity is packed with techniques to help you find focus and motivation in your work from a mindful perspective. |
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October 22nd, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Hi Chris – I like to think that Inner Work produces “Internal Structure” that helps you as you go about life in they physical world. If you did not have Internal Structure you could still act in the world, but then it’s the physical world that controls you. I’m not totally clear on this thought, but if you had no internal structure the physical world outside of you would seem to be all there was and so it’s rules would “rule” over you. It’s the difference between believing that you can create things in your life and feeling that you are simply “tossed around” by the things around you. I’ll have to think more about this.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Yes, and right now I’m taking a writing class because I’d like to write a book about it and I’m trying to work through the structure.
I absolutely believe the inner work creates the outside – and like you, I found that through yoga and meditation and journaling. I spent many years angry, resentful and blaming others. But yoga and meditation helped break the chains that bind me and find peace within me to achieve what I want to achieve. It’s not easy, but it is worth it.
Thanks for sharing your story – I have also had great ideas during meditation that I never thought would come!
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:55 pm
For me the benefit has mostly been clarity – about an issue or a next step.
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:08 am
I’ve experienced so many practical benefits it’s impossible to list them all. Probably the most important has been to help me find and maintain an inner peace that enables me to deal with many of the day to day challenges and opportunities with much greater ease, balance and clear headedness. It’s also allowed me to enjoy life much more and not get so worked up and stressed about stuff.
And these things make me much better company for others!
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:16 am
Hi Amanda — yes, I think I get what you’re saying — that we tend to assume that things out in the world produce our thoughts and feelings (like “he was rude to me and that made me angry”). We don’t usually acknowledge our own responsibility for how we experience the world and interpret what happens to us.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
Hi Stacey — I’m looking forward to reading your book and I’m glad to hear about the transformation your practices created in your life.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:47 am
Hi Evan — yes, I’ve experienced that as well — that the more I sit with myself, the simpler and clearer living seems to become.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:51 am
Hi Ian — yes, I think that’s an often-overlooked aspect of personal growth work — that others benefit from being around us when we do it.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Hi Chris – couldn’t agree more. The obvious example that occurs to me is my blog – it ALL comes from the extensive inner work I have done over the years. Then there’s my comfortable income – I couldn’t have had that happen if I hadn’t got into ideas such as loving your work and attracting abundance.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Hi Robin — that’s awesome to hear about, and I can definitely get that when I read your blog.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:08 am
My inner work has helped me in so many ways. My happiness is more regular. I don’t have the highs and lows that used to send me into a depressed state.
It’s the every day things that are more enjoyable. I have so much more fun when I take the dog for a walk or drink a cup of tea or practice Yoga. I’m there just trying to enjoy everything in my life.
It has taken me years to get to this level. I know that I have more work to do, but even that excites me because I look forward to expanding my happiness.
October 27th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Hi Karl — it sounds like there’s a sense of peace in the background during your day that wasn’t there before — I know I’ve had the same experiences since I started meditating regularly.