An Introduction to Inner Work
The most important work you can do...is on yourself.
“...man must find his own Soul.”
- Chandogya Upanishad
To "figure yourself out."
To "Know Thyself."
To "work on yourself."
There are lots of names for it. Plenty of ways to describe it.
Ours is "Inner Work."
But let's back up a second and start at the beginning.
"An Introduction to Inner Work" is an online course brought to you by...well, us: the trusty, cuddly, moderately dashing-yet-approachable, ever-vigilant folks behind LiveReal.
So, what the heck is this course about?
Great question. Glad you asked.
“...the unquestionable ability of man
to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.”
- Henry David Thoreau
What is "Inner Work"?
"Inner Work" as we describe it here is "working on yourself."
It's "Know Thyself."
But how? How do you get to really "know thyself"?
Our answer is, well, Inner Work.
Chances are, you're already doing some form of Inner Work, whether you call it that or not.
Honestly, we almost all have at least a rough sense of what it means to "work on yourself." If you suspect it's something like, well, trying to sort yourself out, understand yourself, work on your own issues, pop the hood of yourself and take a look at what's inside...then, yes, that's exactly it.
It's working to know ourselves, improve ourselves, understand ourselves, figure ourselves out, but in a systematic, organized, researched, methodological way.
From the latest science to the oldest wisdom we know of, we search anywhere and everywhere to find nuggets of wisdom to help us "elevate our life by conscious endeavor."
This isn't a pep-talk. It's not fluffy psychobabble. It's not a pile of platitudes. ("Be here now!" "Think positive!" "Don't eat yellow snow!")
It's a nuts-and-bolts, no-nonsense, practical, see-for-yourself guidebook for sorting yourself out.
We could call it the "Central Sane Activity" (to borrow a phrase from Peter Watson), at least the way we're thinking about it here.
If the phrase "Know Thyself" appeals to you, this explores the "how."
So, what's in the course?
Great question.
Here's a partial Table of Contents.
Inner Work: A Brief Overview
A Starting Point: The Most Basic Idea
A Basic Introduction to "Inner Work"
9 Core Qualities of Inner Work
A Basic Introduction to "Peak Experiences"
Peak Experiences as "Glimpses"
How to Cultivate Peak Experiences
Foundations: 5 Approaches to Inner Work
1) Our Core Personal Narrative and The Big Questions
2) Our "Core Delusion"
3) Our Inner Body Parts (...and horses...?)
4) A Theory of Human Nature in 5 Words
5) "Human Potential": A Brief, Non-Cheesy Version
A Brief Overview of Techniques, Methods, Practices
A Few Ground Rules on Techniques
Major Techniques
"Soul-searching"
Interacting with folks who know stuff
Meditation
Mindfulness
Introspection
External Challenges
Intimate Relationships
Isolation and Solitude
Prayer
Koans
...and several more
Minor Techniques
Writing Exercises
Yoga
Fasting
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Exploring emotional/psychological issues
"Shadow Work"
"Life Review"
Stoicism
Colin Wilson Concentration Exercise
Observation of Negative Emotions
Articulating Your Life Philosophy
...and several more
A Basic Overview of Meditation
Important Notes About Techniques, Methods, Exercises
"What's the best technique?"
The limits of techniques
"Process verses Content"
Don't bring a spoon to a cannon fight
All of these techniques can be misused
Get your house in order
Watch for ego-inflation
The importance of fell0w-travelers
What to do when you have an experience
The Fruit of Inner Work
Where To Go From Here
What's the format of the course?
It's an online learning system - something like the rest of the content on the site, but the ability to mark your progress through the various chapters and topics (mentioned above.)
To be clear: it's not currently video or audio. In its current form, it's content that is 1) digital (online), and 2) a downloadable pdf that you can read as one single document or print.
How long is the course?
The pdf by itself is ____ pages. There's a really clear and handy Table of Contents that allows you read everything in order or skip around if that's your style.
So, who are you again?
Glad you asked. We're the folks behind this humble little website.
We've been exploring and digging into this stuff for decades. Along the way, we've mapped out a few pot holes, sand traps, and hornet's nests. We don't claim to have all the answers - we're honestly a bit suspicious of folks who do - but we can sometimes help folks avoid a prickly briar patch or two.
We'd recommend poking around the site. If you dig the cut of our jib, and can get a sense of where we're coming from...well, this course is where things get more meaty. We dig a bit deeper here & delve into some of the more advanced material that we don't really get into in the rest of the site.
How do I order?
Two options:
1) You can buy the course by itself for $245.
If for some reason you get it and you hate it, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. (We aren't supposed to do this with digital products, but well, we're cool like that.)
You can order the course by itself here.
2) You can become a LiveReal Patron/Member for $9.95/month.
This also gives you access to our Member Discussion Board / Watering Hole where you can hang out with other folks who are interested in this stuff. You can cancel whenever you want.
To become a LiveReal Member / Patron, go here.
So, why should I get the course for $245 when I can get it for $9.95 a month?
Here's the inside scoop: the monthly Patron/Member option is probably the better route for most folks. (It's the one we generally recommend.)
The idea is that the community of folks who are interested in this stuff becomes your favorite part of the experience. But if you know you won't be interested in that, and only want a one-time thing instead of an ongoing monthly thing, well, #1 might make more sense.
Plus, you get access to the community.
Part of the reason for the course is to help gather folks who are interested in the stuff into one place. Like-minded folks can compare notes, share tips, and swap stories in ways that can save you a ton of time, energy, and confusion.
We feature a members-only, private discussion board where folks can meet, get to know each other, and hopefully, help each other figure a few things out.
Is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes. Option 1 (the $245 course) has a 30-day money-back guarantee. For Option 2, you can cancel at any time. If for some reason you decide you hate us and want to cancel within your first 30 days, and you want a refund, no problem. Just let us know.
Aren't you supposed to say "Act now!" "This offer expires in 2 days!" and stuff like that?
Yes, we're supposed to do that. But well, we aren't. We aren't going to hype this up. We've tried to just present this in a good old-fashioned way that's fair and honest, without hype or trying to push psychological buttons. So, if this sounds good to you, then well, grab life by the loins and jump in. If it doesn't, no problem.
Do you like fried chicken?
Yes.
Any other questions?
Wait - I thought you were the one asking the questions.
I am.
But that wasn't a question.
Yes it was.
Umm, no it wasn't. And neither was that last one.
Which one?
That last one.
That last what?
OK, I'm totally confused.
Me too.
What do you want to do?
I want to take a look at this course, and see if there's anything interesting in there.
Sounds good. So, what do I do again?
Order the course by itself here, or become a Member / Patron here.
Any questions, concerns, comments or glowing praise, feel free to reach out to us here.