What is the Journey Inward?

The path of going within to reclaim what has always been ours

Author’s Note: This article coincides with the launch of my new website — journeyinward.ca. If you’re drawn to explore life’s deeper questions, like Who am I? What is my purpose? How do I find my way home to myself? I invite you to visit and see where the journey might lead. Let’s walk this path together. 🙏

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The Call to Look Within

When I began writing this publication, I had no idea it would become a central part of my healing and transformational journey. What started as a blog for my coaching business evolved into an essential practice for self-discovery.

I never imposed great expectations on my writing; my commitment was to show up daily, publish weekly, and maintain the momentum. I renamed my Substack publication 'Journey Inward' last November, around the time I realized that true fulfillment wouldn’t come from achievements, recognition, or external certainty. Instead, wholeness emerges from turning inward, connecting with our authentic selves and the Divine.

This name arose intuitively, born from my need for stillness, silence, reflection, and self-love. Later, I discovered it echoed Stage 4 of Janet Hagberg’s book The Critical Journey — a framework for understanding how faith matures, deepens, and transforms. Stage 4 invites inner transformation, trust, and surrender through radical honesty and compassion toward the self. That synchronicity marked a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey.

Photo by Lanju Fotografie on Unsplash

Not upward, but deeper

Some people view the spiritual journey as a climb up a ladder, reaching higher levels of enlightenment. However, I believe the spiritual journey goes in the opposite direction—it takes us deeper into ourselves. My understanding of this concept has been shaped by Richard Rohr's work, especially his book Falling Upward.

Often, we think of spiritual growth as a spiral that circles around a central axis, allowing us to meet ourselves at a higher level each time we progress. I envision this same spiral, but as we descend the spiral, we meet our more authentic selves by shedding the layers of conditioning and adaptive behaviours that once kept us safe but now hold us back.

Deep within us lies our core essence—an essence bestowed upon us by the Creator. This is the essence to which we are returning. I once had a profound experience during a Deep Coaching session, where I delved deeper and deeper within myself. Suddenly, the whole universe opened up and I could see the big picture from an expansive perspective. This experience gave me a real vision of the galaxy within us, at our core, and reaching this expansive universe means going deeper, not higher.

What is the journey inward?

“It is foolish to think we will enter heaven without entering into ourselves.”

— Teresa of Ávila

The Journey Inward is a process of rediscovering ourselves. As Thomas Keating describes it, it is an "archaeological dig" that uncovers who we have always been at our core.

The Journey Inward is the path of rediscovering the unique gift or essence we were born with — our true contribution to the world. It asks us to shift from head to heart, to listen to inner wisdom rather than external voices, to engage in reflection, shadow work, and healing, and to ask with genuine intent: Who am I? What is my purpose?

If we do not know ourselves, how can we truly understand our purpose here on Earth? How can we truly know one another? The Divine resides within us. It’s not a distant Garden of Eden in the sky; rather, it is the garden we cultivate within ourselves. Going inward is the path to unity with the Universe. It is where we find ourselves and the true love that dwells within us.

Why this journey matters

“If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.”

— Gospel of Thomas, Saying 70

The Journey Inward is essential. Why? Committing to this journey and dedicating our lives to uncovering what lies within us will provide purpose and a clear vision for our path. If we ignore this calling, suppress it, or seek validation from external sources, we will never find true contentment. We will perpetually struggle to find our way, uncertain of which direction to take.

There is no other path to reclaiming the gift the Creator placed within us. When we live for others rather than ourselves, hiding our true essence, we inevitably feel the consequences.

The danger of stages and comparison

Thinking about the spiritual journey in terms of stages can sometimes be misleading. It may create a false sense of achievement or encourage us to compare ourselves with others. We often want to reach the “next stage” as quickly as possible, but that’s not how the journey works. There is no fixed timeline, no direct path, and at times, there may not even be a visible one. We advance one step at a time toward a horizon of faith.

I love David Whyte's poem, "Just Beyond Yourself," as it beautifully uses the horizon as a metaphor:

"Just beyond
yourself.
It’s where you need to be.
...
There is a road
always beckoning.
When you see the two sides
closing together
at that far horizon
and deep in the foundations
of your own heart
at exactly the same time,
that’s how you know
it’s the road
you have to follow."

If you’d like to read the complete poem, I encourage you to follow this link — it’s a powerful companion on the inward path.

A closing encouragement

Much of our lives revolve around the journey outward — seeking success, recognition, status, and physical security.

On the other hand, the journey inward is about reconnecting with the essence of who we have always been. It involves peeling away the layers of personality, behaviour, and defences that keep us from becoming who we truly are. This journey requires us to acknowledge our hurt and disappointment, allowing these feelings to exist while also nurturing them enough to heal.

The journey inward is a connection with your true self, inner wisdom, and deeper trust.

However, this journey is not without its challenges. It demands courage, surrender, and patience. As Janet Hagberg puts it, "It is a place of being stripped bare, a shedding of illusions, and a rediscovery of God—not as we imagined, but as God truly is: unknowable, loving, and present in all things."

Have you felt a calling to embark on your inward journey? What signs have you received to know? What practices have you explored to delve deeper?

Please leave your comments below or send me a message. I would love to hear from you.

With warmth & gratitude,
Brooke.