Coaching for transformation: Working on the inside out

We all often have goals we want to work towards and improvements we want to make in our lives. We may want to work towards a promotion, change careers, start a new venture or improve our financial situation. Whilst we need a sense of purpose and can feel satisfied when we achieve our objectives, a sense of discontentment and low-level unhappiness can quickly return. We may find that we are constantly looking outside of ourselves for that one situation, event or possession that will finally make everything feel just right and make us feel that we have finally arrived. But working on the 'outside in' means we can never be content and satisfied.

Finding happiness

When we depend on outside circumstances and material possessions to make us happy, the temporary happiness and satisfaction soon wears off and we are back at square one, wanting something else to alleviate the inner dissatisfaction we sometimes feel. We live in a fast-paced, consumer-led society - therefore craving more things, and looking for happiness outside of ourselves has become increasingly familiar.

We all long for a sense of contentment, meaning and purpose but we can sometimes lose touch with the things that really matter, and we can become lost and unaware of who we really are and what we really want. Whilst life can be difficult and we all experience suffering, we have lost sight of our inherent joy and contentment, and do not know how to nurture these positive emotions.

Ultimately, happiness, contentment and satisfaction come from within, and the most profound changes occur when we work on our internal world. When we slow down, listen and connect to our inner wisdom and authenticity, re-discover who we are and what we really want, we will naturally develop more joy and resilience, and will organically take action that aligns with our authentic selves. We then find that our external goals are less meaningful and that being grateful for what we already have, understanding who we are, and connecting with our intuition is more fulfilling.

Getting to know ourselves in this way is deeply personal and multifaceted and involves examining our beliefs, behaviours, attitudes, and perceptions about ourselves and the world around us. It requires a conscious effort to connect to who we really are, and confront our fears, biases, and limitations, whilst fostering growth, resilience, and self-awareness. We also need to challenge what we think is true, confront our beliefs and choose how to respond rather than habitually reacting out of our conditioned thought patterns and behaviours. It asks that we practice mindfulness, spend time in nature and deepen our human connections.

Working from the inside out

Working on the inside out, it requires introspection, courage, patience, self-love and a willingness to embrace the unknown. It requires becoming aware of our thoughts, feelings and sensations regularly and honouring what we know is intuitively good for us. This may be difficult, but there is a whole new world inside of you waiting to be found which may be more satisfying than you ever imagined.