“Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job, you can make a living, but if you work hard on yourself, you’ll make a fortune.” ~Jim Rohn
Jim Rohn’s powerful words resonated deeply in my mind— reminding me that personal growth not only impacts our lives but also transforms the way we lead and inspire others. Although difficult and technical skills are enormously important for leadership, the legacy we leave behind is determined by how much we invest in our personal growth.
In this blog, I’ll share my own experience of how, through investing time in inner work and personal growth, I transformed from being a boss to an inspirational leader in my home, work, and community.
What’s Inner Work in The First Place:
Photo taken from – https://evolutionsannapolis.com/lightness-inner-light/inner-light-meditation/
Inner work is the process of understanding what’s going on inside you: your thoughts, emotions, values, and beliefs. It might be abstract to grasp the idea, so think of inner work as lighting a flame within yourself, allowing that light to shine from within and illuminate the entire room around you. Inner work is cultivating self-awareness of the things you’re doing and how these actions align with your core principles.
My Journey Before Inner Work
“Yanal, I am returning home to change my clothes, direct our neighbors’ kids in a straight line in front of my house from the tallest to the shortest one, and wait for me.” Tying my special pink head scarf over my curls, I then went outside our home’s door to give every child the rules of the game. 127 cm above the ground, my age was 8 years old; I managed to lead 7 kids.
I grew up with my mind filled with my mother saying, “You’re born to be a leader.”
As I grew up, I took on leadership roles within and beyond my school. I was heavily relied upon by the head of school for various tasks. Entrusting us, the headmaster elected my friend and me to lead 218 students in the theater class where I fulfilled my role successfully.
However, something was missing in my methods of leading others. I was more focused on getting tasks done and didn’t care much about my team members’ emotions. I was strict about making sure they finished everything on time. Being a leader drained my energy as I filled my life with people and responsibilities and forgot about myself, my health, and my relationship with my family.
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Embracing Inner Work and Transformation
All of the voices, responsibilities, and leadership roles diminished while I sat alone in my room—the Covid-19 quarantine period had started.
The question that kicked off my new journey was, “Are you strong from the inside, or are you just acting like you’re a strong leader?”
I unleashed the intention “to find my inner flame.” Through this, I would then be able to face any challenge life threw my way in search of a purposeful life as an authentic leader.
I benefited from the COVID-19 quarantine to isolate myself from any outside distractions.
Every morning at 5 a.m., I took the yoga mat to the roof of our house. Amidst birdsong, I flowed from yoga’s child pose to the happy baby pose, releasing many hidden emotions through my chanting of ‘Om.’ Glimpses of inner peace started to manifest more frequently in my everyday life.
I began building up my library with many powerful books to become the best version of myself. Journaling was another effective way to help me learn more about myself and reflect on each journey.
The Resilient Leader I Am Today
After continuously working on myself, my skills, my health, and my leadership qualities for four years, I was able to overcome many challenges that crossed my path—from moving to four countries in one year and settling in a new country with my family. I reached a point where external challenges never affected me on a deeper level after having created a list of goals that merged with my inner peace.
After these 5 years, I’m beyond grateful for how much I have transformed; being simply a boss from a point of weakness to being a true leader from a point of strength.
My inside-out journey…
Actionable Steps to Begin Your Inner Work Journey
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Now, how can you start with your own inner work?
My first recommendation is to take it easy and start with baby steps. Here are some tips to start with your inside-out journey:
- Start with Self-Reflection:
Find a time to reflect and journal, all it takes is a notebook, a pen, and 30 to 60 minutes of your day. Start asking yourself questions like:
Who am I at my core?
What are my goals and plans?
What gave me energy over the past year? And what took my energy away?
- Practice Mindfulness or Meditation
According to the American Psychological Association, more than 200 studies found that mindfulness-based therapy is effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Try including mindfulness in your day-to-day routine for just 5-10 minutes. Start by closing your eyes, sitting in a comfortable seat, being aware of each time you inhale and exhale, and focusing on your thoughts without judging them.
Remember that our mind is an instrument used to help us get certain things done, but there should be time intervals to just be present; for example, feeling the air in your face, observing people around you without judging, or noticing your breath.
- Invest in Personal Development:
I highly recommend reading books, watching lectures, and listening to podcasts about personal development:
I recommend reading:
•“The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle
•“Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman
Start Your Inner Work Journey Today
Nothing can be changed overnight. Transforming as a leader is a long inward journey of knowing yourself, cultivating personal growth, and filling your cup. Start small but be consistent!
In the end, don’t forget to give yourself a high-five in the mirror for making these changes and being brave enough to step into this journey.
Now, are you ready to discover the leader within you?