How to Find Inner Peace: A Guide to True Freedom & Self-Connection

This article is based on our podcast episode, Make Magic: Finding Freedom in Yourself. Listen to the full episode here.

Takeaway: True freedom isn't just about external circumstances - it's an internal state that we can cultivate through mindful practices and self-awareness. This guide will help you recognize what blocks your inner freedom and provide practical tools to create more spaciousness in your life, even when facing resistance.

Have you ever noticed how quickly you reach for your phone when you have a moment of silence? Or how uncomfortable it feels to simply sit with yourself without any distractions? You're not alone. In our constantly connected world, finding true internal freedom can feel not just challenging, but sometimes even scary. The good news is that this freedom - this spacious, limitless feeling - already exists within you. It's just waiting to be uncovered.

What Is True Freedom?

True freedom is a big, spacious feeling that lives within us. When we feel freedom on the inside, we feel nourished, purposeful, and trustful. When we experience true freedom, we can relax into our own worthiness and our intuitive nature arises. This purposeful knowing feels like an inner compass, and it gives us roots and a sense of being grounded. It gives us ease.

The Barriers to Inner Freedom

Before we dive into how to cultivate inner freedom, let's look at what commonly blocks it:

1. Digital Distractions

   • Constant phone checking

   • Passive consumption of social media

   • Using technology to "take the edge off"

     
     

2. Mental Patterns

   • Overthinking

   • Future worrying

   • Past ruminating

     
     

3. External Validation

   • Looking outside ourselves for answers

   • Seeking permission from others

   • Relying on external guidance over inner wisdom

     
     

Working with Resistance: Beyond Basic Meditation

When we try to create more internal space, resistance often shows up. Here's how to work with common forms of resistance:

1. The "Too Busy" Resistance

• What it feels like: Constant urgency, inability to slow down

• How to work with it:

  • Start with 3-minute pauses between activities

  • Practice "micro-moments" of freedom (taking three conscious breaths)

  • Schedule non-negotiable space in your calendar

2. The "Uncomfortable Feelings" Resistance

• What it feels like: Anxiety or restlessness when trying to be still

• How to work with it:

  • Use the "starfish method" (lie down and allow yourself to take up space - helps to create a sense of grounding and support from the earth)

  • Practice gentle body scanning

  • Start with movement meditation (walking, gentle stretching)

3. The "Monkey Mind" Resistance

• What it feels like: Racing thoughts, constant planning

• How to work with it:

  • Use anchoring practices (feeling your feet on the ground)

  • Label thoughts without judgment ("planning," "remembering")

  • Create a "thought parking lot" for ideas that arise

    
    

Signs You're Connecting with True Freedom

When you're experiencing true inner freedom, you might notice:

• A sense of spaciousness in your body

• Natural arising of creativity and intuition

• Decreased need for external validation

• More trust in your inner knowing

• Ability to respond rather than react

• Feeling grounded even in challenging situations

  
  

Practical Steps to Cultivate Inner Freedom

1. Create Sacred Space

   • Designate a quiet corner in your home

   • Set boundaries around your time

   • Remove digital distractions during your practice

     
     

2. Develop Body Awareness

   • Practice regular body scans

   • Notice where you hold tension

   • Listen to your body's signals for space

     
     

3. Work with Your Mind

   • Observe thoughts without attachment

   • Practice coming back to the present moment

   • Use gentle redirection rather than force
     

4. Build Trust in Your Inner Knowing

   • Start with small decisions

   • Notice and document intuitive hits

   • Practice following your inner guidance

   
   

Questions for Self-Reflection

Take a moment to explore these questions:

• When you sit down at the end of your day, what are you trying to relax from?

• Do you feel anxious or pressured to pick up your phone or turn on the television?

• If you could have freedom from any thought or emotion, what would it be?

• What does true freedom feel like in your body?

Moving Forward

Remember, cultivating inner freedom is a practice, not a destination. It's okay to start small and build gradually. The key is consistency and gentleness with yourself. When you notice resistance arising, treat it as a signal that you're moving in the right direction - resistance often shows up right before breakthrough.

If you're feeling called to explore this further, I invite you to try one small practice today: Take three conscious breaths and notice the space between them. That space - that's your innate freedom saying hello.

Want to learn more about creating space for yourself? Check out my blog on permission energy, where we dive deeper into giving yourself permission to take up space and honor your needs.