What Actually Is Inner Work?

The other day, I was talking with a group of people about the importance of doing your inner work.

Afterwards, someone came up to me and asked, "What do you actually mean by that?"

I loved that question.

Because sometimes, when we’re deep into a topic, we forget that not everyone speaks the same language. And I realised that I talk about “doing your inner work” a lot, but have I ever really explained what I mean?

So, here it is…..

Inner work is getting to know yourself on a deeper level.

It’s understanding why you think, behave, and feel the way you do. It’s recognising your triggers, your sensitivities, your patterns of reactivity. It’s uncovering the beliefs that shape your choices—many of which were formed long before you even realised you had a choice.

Inner work is what allows you to become more Self-led.

When you don’t do your inner work, parts of you, like the overachiever, the people pleaser, the perfectionist, or the inner critic, end up running the show. They take over in moments of stress, fear, or pressure, and suddenly, you’re reacting rather than leading with clarity. There are no ‘bad parts’, all our parts have very positive intentions for us, and many are working from out of date beliefs and programming which isn’t helping us now. When you go towards and work with your parts, you get to update them and help them to change how they help you.

Why does this matter?

Because without inner work:🔹 You react instead of respond. (Hello, regretful emails and unnecessary tension.)🔹 You take things personally when they’re not.🔹 You repeat patterns in relationships (personal and professional) without knowing why.🔹 You struggle with self-doubt, overthinking, or imposter syndrome.🔹 You lead from stress and reactivity, rather than clarity and calm.

But with inner work:

✅ You notice your triggers before they take over.

✅ You communicate with more confidence and ease.

✅ You build stronger relationships—because you understand yourself and others better.

✅ You stop carrying beliefs that no longer serve you.

✅ You lead (yourself and others) from Self—calm, clear, compassionate, confident.

How do you start?

Here are a few simple ways to begin:

🧘 Meditate & look inwards. Sit with yourself. Pay attention to your emotions. Instead of pushing them away, get curious. What are they trying to tell you? What parts of you are showing up, and what do they need?

📝 Reflect. Journaling (or even just thinking intentionally) about your experiences can help you spot patterns and uncover deeper insights about yourself.

🗣️ Get support. Talking to a coach, therapist, or trusted mentor can help bring the unconscious into awareness and give you a clearer view of what’s really going on.

🛑 Pause before reacting. When something triggers you, notice it. Instead of immediately responding, take a breath and ask yourself, What’s coming up for me right now?

🎧 Get curious. Listen to podcasts, read books, and engage with ideas that challenge your current way of thinking. Curiosity is the antidote to judgment, and it keeps you open to learning.

Inner work isn’t about “fixing” yourself—you’re not broken. It’s about knowing yourself, so you can lead, love, and live with more ease, clarity, and freedom.

And trust me, it changes everything.

I’m curious—what does inner work mean to you? Have you ever had an “aha” moment from getting to know yourself better?