The Journey Within: Discovering a Deeper Reality

Questioning the Outer World

The world around us feels real. We can see, touch, hear, and experience it with our senses. Many live fully in this visible world, satisfied with what they know and see. However, some begin to ask deeper questions: Is this all there is? They sense that lasting peace and genuine happiness can’t be found “out there”—in the external world alone.

The Turn Inward

These individuals begin a journey inward—a pilgrimage into the unseen. Meditation, contemplation, and self-reflection become their tools. These practices help rotate awareness inward, away from the senses. Over time, they begin to see and feel another world—not with their eyes or hands, but with their inner awareness.

Is the Inner World Real?

For beginners, this inner experience can feel strange, even imaginary. Doubts arise. We’re used to solid proof of the physical world: we see shapes, feel temperatures, and smell scents. But inner reality is not as easy to measure. What defines reality when exploring consciousness? Is the mind’s landscape any less real?

The Search for Truth Within

While some dismiss the idea of an inner reality, others feel a strong intuitive pull. They stand between two worlds and attempt to understand both. However, turning inward is not always easy. Meditation can feel difficult. Concentration may waver. Self-reflection often reveals uncomfortable truths.

So how can we prove the inner world is real? The answer lies in experience. Like feeling rain on your skin instead of just believing it’s raining, discovering your inner peace requires direct exploration.

Seven Steps to Experiencing Your Inner Peace

1. Hear It

Begin by hearing or reading the idea: Peace is your true nature. Words are not the experience—they are pointers. Like the word “fire” cannot burn you, spiritual truths must be lived, not just heard.

2. Think It

Next, form a clear thought in your mind: I am peace. Focus gently on this idea. Let it become your mental center.

3. See It

With soft concentration, visualize this thought. Other distractions may appear, but with practice, they pass. Your mind becomes still, centered on the single idea.

4. Feel It

As you focus, you begin to feel the thought—deeply. Just as water grows calmer the deeper you dive, the thought leads to an experience. You start feeling peace itself.

5. Know It

At this point, peace is no longer a theory. You know it through direct feeling. You recognize it as your true self, confirming that peace is your essence.

6. Be It

With practice, peace becomes easier to access. You build confidence knowing it is always within you. It becomes your source of strength and clarity.

7. Live It

Eventually, peace is not just something you feel in meditation—it’s how you live. You become a person who brings inner calm to a noisy world. Doubts fade, and clarity grows. You live from truth.

Final Thoughts

Question: What are the signs you’re becoming more aware that the “outer world” is not all there is?

Reflection: As without, so within. As within, so without. How do your inner and outer worlds mirror each other?

Action: Spend five minutes each day this week practicing these steps. Allow yourself to turn inward. See what you discover.

Written by our professor Mike George.