By: Ash Patel
Source: The Daily Guardian https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/view/2822/the-daily-guardian/15
Dated: August 9th, 2025

The journey to full spirituality is an exploration of the inner world. It requires honesty and the art of self-reflection. Reflection is clearer when we are in front of a mirror. It is only when we are able to see clearly that we can respond to what we see. Throughout the journey, even if it is sometimes difficult, the key is to hold the intention to be honest. 

This journey does not begin with finding what flaws we have but in understanding who we really are. Until we can embrace that understanding, it will be difficult to look inside. Therefore, the first step is appreciating who I really am and seeing the value of the self once moreWhen we elevate our consciousness and create powerful thoughts of truth, in soul awareness, we can see our value and be able to observe what is going on with detachment.

It is when we feel that we need to do the inner work on our own, that we struggle. This is where the metaphor of the mirror really begins to work. Our connection with the Divine, the Supreme source, is the key to our moving forwards. Instead of asking the self what I need to see, in meditation I ask the Divine to show me what I need to see in the mirror of my own heart. It is such a subtle but powerfully different approach that it relieves us from having to figure out what is going on in our own inner world. 

There are signals that let us know that we are not being honest with ourselves. They are like alarm bells of the heart. We have to understand that feelings like stress, procrastination, and sadness are not failures; they are loving calls from the heart, asking for attention. Here are some of the feelings that we need to notice.

1. Being highly emotional or overly sensitive 
2. Feeling easily stressed by small things
3. Constant circular thinking – getting nowhere
4. Procrastination 
5. Inability to make clear decisions
6. Having a short fuse and being irritable with those closest to us

These are all signs of a need for greater honesty. There are deeper and louder signals.

1. Persistent internal heaviness 
2. Depression
3. Lack of mental or physical energy
4. A desire to isolate the self 
5. The desire to escape with distractions
6. Inner numbness
7. Being completely disengaged\loss of enjoyment 

One thing to really understand is that God is genuinely really pleased with even the smallest amount of effort. His role is to be able to help us see what is going on in our inner world. And sometimes, when we are overly emotional and seek God’s help, we cry out with this emotion. We are not detached enough to know what we are trying to articulate, but we think that God can help us in this approach, but He cannot. Our responsibility is to separate from the emotion and become detached and find a space to accept the situation, not fix it, but accept it, because the moment we are able to accept, we have the possibility to detach. Detachment then means that God can step in. For example, if you are the boss of a business and someone comes to say what difficulties they are having but they are completely emotional and inarticulate – you cannot help them. Your advice would probably be to take some time to step away and allow the dust to settle and then come back and say what the problem really is. If we take that same approach with our relationship with God, then our honesty will allow God’s help to really change situations that we face. This is the secret; to be detached, to step away and then allow the Divine to step in and resolve the situation in the way He needs to. Not in the way we would like it to be, but in the way it needs to be done. 

Do not do any inner work in pain – untangle the emotions, of attachment, fear and anger. Then we can accept, detach, and talk to God

Q1. What am I feeling? – name it

Q2. What am I afraid of and why?  Fear always has one emotional presence; there will be anger, guilt, resentment, or depression.

Q3. What am I attached to? 

Then I have been truly completely honest with myself and can hand it over to God. 

When we find that the thought of doing this makes us feel really heavy, and do not want to do it, that is OK. All this tells us is that there is more power needed. We need more meditation, because a consistent practice of meditation brings the power of peace, and the power of peace brings the power to face the inner world with courage. With the power to face the inner world, there is the power to open the heart to God and let Him show the way. God sees us as lights to the world. Let our inner work be an act of love for ourselves and for all.

Aashish Patel works in IT and coordinates
Brahma Kumaris activities at the Lighthouse Retreat Centre, Worthing, UK.