The inner work of becoming a better person

I greatly improved my quality of life, mental health, and well-being when I decided to do inner work. I consider my sobriety date (12/23/13) my second birthday. This is when I put all the nonsense aside and started working on my inner self.

I don’t like nebulous self-improvement terms like “self-discovery,” “self-healing,” and being on my “healing journey.” While many in the self-improvement space will find those terms acceptable, I want to speak plainly so that everyone can get something from this and get to work on the inner work.

The inner work is work that you do on your personal inadequacies, weaknesses, and flaws that are getting in the way of you living the life you want. It’s not something that can be reading self-help books, and it’s not a spiritual practice. The inner work is down-and-dirty self-improvement that is neither fun nor easy but absolutely necessary.

In my case, I knew that I had a pornography addiction, I was an alcoholic, I had no confidence in myself, and I couldn’t stick to something long enough to reap the rewards. I put a lot of work into myself. The rest of this article covers the methods and approaches that I used to do to become the best version of myself.

Embracing Adversity: The First Step in The Inner Work

This journey begins with overcoming adversity. I grew up in poverty, raised by a single mom in public housing. This eventually led to a battle with alcoholism. By acknowledging and confronting these challenges, I set the stage for my own personal hero’s journey. We all start somewhere, and I start out almost as bad as you can.

• Living in the hood
• Getting sober

The Inner Work Principle: Focusing on Self-Improvement

Self-improvement has been a driving force in my life. I returned to school at age 29 to get my degree in physics despite being a failing math student. I’ve developed my abilities as a writer and social media marketer. I had the self-awareness to know where I was weak and, thanks to boxing, developed the growth mindset necessary to do the inner work.

• How to make money on social media
• Learning skills

Cultivating Emotional Intelligence

My journey from boxing to public speaking and writing forced me to develop emotional intelligence. I learned how to manage my emotions in high-pressure situations as well as make new friends and make people feel comfortable. You can never overestimate the value of being likable.

Being likable has kept me out of prison and given me extra opportunities when I made mistakes. As long as people want to help you, you’re never too far good. As long as you’re not too far gone, there will also be a chance. This is the power of cultivating emotional intelligence.

• Connecting with people

Building Self-Awareness

A cornerstone of Inner Work is having an unwavering commitment to self-awareness. I know where my strengths, weaknesses, and motivations are. This has allowed me to identify opportunities for personal growth and pursue different avenues of success. Doors open for are typically closed to otherwise more talented individuals.

Embracing Vulnerability

Sharing personal stories and insights requires vulnerability. I firmly believe that your life is a waste if you don’t use what you’ve gone through to teach and inspire. Through his writing and speaking engagements, he openly discusses his experiences, fostering connections with his audience and creating opportunities for others to learn from his journey.

Cultivating Empathy and Compassion

In my interactions with others, I try to demonstrate empathy and compassion, essential qualities in the inner work journey. By understanding people’s experiences and feelings on a deeper level, I can connect with them more authentically and make a positive impact on their lives.

Here are some practical steps to start your own inner work journey:

• Reflect on your past experiences and challenges, and acknowledge how they have shaped you.
• Set personal development goals to improve your skills, knowledge, or emotional intelligence.
• Practice mindfulness and meditation to enhance self-awareness and focus.
• Embrace vulnerability by sharing your experiences and emotions with others.
• Cultivate empathy and compassion by actively listening and seeking to understand others’ perspectives.

I’d like to think that my journey of the inner work serves as an inspiring example of the power of self-reflection, self-improvement, and emotional intelligence in transforming one’s life.

By embracing the principles of the inner work, you too can unlock your potential and achieve personal and professional success. Begin your inner work journey today and create a positive impact on your own life and the lives of others.