Every now and then, I like to revisit one of my favorite books of all time, Man’s Search For Meaning by Nazi death camp survivor and psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl.
One passage stands out, where he was discussing the qualities of those who managed to survive the horrors of the concentration camps:
Sensitive people who were used to a rich intellectual life may have suffered much pain, but the damage to their inner selves was less. They were able to retreat from their terrible surroundings to a life of inner riches and spiritual freedom.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a sensitive lone wolf, someone who doesn’t quite fit into this world (hence why you subscribed to “lonerwolf,” eh).
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Today, I want this post to be a quick confirmation that cultivating a rich inner world is worth doing. It is a safeguard against suffering.
It has been tested in one of the most horrendous situations known to humanity and proven to be valuable.
If that isn’t validation enough, I don’t know what is.
So if you’re experiencing disconnection, emptiness, loss, or painful feelings of any kind right now, go inwards.
Find a sense of inner richness that lets you experience a glimpse of spiritual freedom.
Some ways I like doing this are:
- Reading. Go to the library, or pick a book that calls to you from your ever-growing pile that I know is there. ;)
- Silence, stillness, and solitude. Go “monk mode” and find your inner richness and spiritual center by disconnecting from the noise of the outer world. Solitary silence and stillness can be found by meditating, taking a walk or hike in nature, or simply disconnecting from all technology for a day or two.
- Journaling. Get to know yourself on a deeper level. Commit to doing at least 15 minutes per day. If you need guided and deeply transformative journaling prompts that create real change, see my Inner Work Journal Bundle.
- Biographies and documentaries. Okay, I know ‘biographies’ could have been included in the first point. But I wanted to make this stand out. Often, the truest and best lessons come from reading about people’s lives and what they actually did (not just said). Documentaries are brilliant ways of getting an insight into people’s lives as well, along with other cultures, and various aspects of life. I recently watched Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018), which was a documentary about the inspiring and wholesome life of Mister Rogers. I learned so much about love, commitment, and following one’s soul’s calling by watching this film.
This is a bite-sized post, but I hope it reminds you of how powerful and necessary cultivating a rich inner world is.
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Sometimes, we lone wolves need that kind of confirmation, especially in such an externally-focused world.
That’s it for today. Take the best care of yourself, and keep that inner world flourishing!
How do you keep your inner world rich and alive? Let me know in the comments. You never know who you may inspire. ;)
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1. The Soul Work Compass Course: Break free from feeling lost and disconnected. The Soul Work Compass is a practical 12-step course that transforms soul loss into soul clarity. Discover your core values, heal core wounds, and create a personalized compass to guide every decision you make.
2. The Inner Work Journal Bundle: Heal at the root. This Inner Work Journal Bundle guides you through self-love, inner child healing, and shadow integration with 150+ prompts and activities. You get editable digital files to use on any device or print unlimited times. Not for lukewarm seekers, these journals are for those ready to transform.
My inner world from the get go of early existence was rich in imagination, where I had to balance this with various abuses from sexual to emotional to mentally and emotionally cope with outer things.
Fear states caused emotional dependence. Head trauma caused unusual thinking, and my family was into free sex for all five of us.
So yes I am Nutty Artistic Anxious at times and still have my private worlds in my drawings, paintings, and nightly writing to ease the essence of being loner wolf sensitive to the extreme but caring for self and others despite the suffering.
Regards John ☺️😺
Thank you for your vulnerability, John. I am inspired by your strength and pursuit of creativity as a form of deep healing. Much love to you 💜
DOG Mans Best friend
On this Rock
Dog spelled backwards
The poem How DOG got it’s Name
The Wonder of these animals to man Who is KIND
GOD Simple set a WOLF to befriend DOG
“Dog is God reversed” is something that has always stuck with me :P
I saw the Mr. Roger’s documentary and read Man’s Search for Meaning this year! What a great synchronicity. I’ve been in the loner wolf cocoon all year. I’m currently sitting here with my pile of books lol. They have always helped me survive this crazy world. I love getting your emails as always
Wow, I love this synchronicity! Thanks for sharing this, Claire 💜 I feel the same way about books too 😊
Phew that’s hard. Felt similar in the years if Corona, but if course I wasn’t threatened with death. It was just to endure the psycological games of the politicians, being not vaxxed. A pleasure stroll compared to the situation in CCs.
Now I’m thinking it’s the same situation in Palestine, being deliberately extincted by people who consider themselves more valuable. I wish them all, lonewolf or not, every strength to survive, physically and with an intact mind.
This is spooky timing as this is one of my favourite books of all time. I might have a re read though I also want to read Edith Egers The Choice and The Gift.
Synchronicity is calling ;)
I’ve worked at building relationships with my Inner Children/memories/experiences/and Shadows. The more I know myself, love myself, heal and build trust with myself, the more I like being here.. because I’m ok being a Lone Wolf. I really do enjoy my own company now. Trust me, it wasn’t always this way! There are two main objectives I strive to actively participate in daily, even sometimes momentarily, and they are; Walking in Faith.. Simply that everything will be ok but Personally that i have close relationship with my Ancestors; and second, that I meet with myself on a regular basis. Fun, healing, sometimes just listening, but always and consistently, staying close with my Self. You have been a huge part of it all.. Kukstemc and OCM!! Thank you and Much Appreciation ♥️
Thank you for sharing this, Sheila 💜
Thank you this was just what I was needing to hear today. I appreciate you!
Thanks K! Appreciate you too. :)
I look at the sky, see the colours, watch it change in an instant, watch the wind move things, this reminds me I am alive and part of something far greater than I,
Beautiful 💜
Hello Luna and Sol
Please ignore the two last comments from me and just read this
I’ve been having rectal prolapse grade 4. It’s causing me to feel on the edge of a cliff to a point it makes my soul not free at all.
Im actually experiencing partial Soul loss these days, and I’m doing my best to retrieve back my soul. However because of having rectal prolapse grade 4, I’m not able to meditate by using the usual method anymore which is faster. I can only retrieve my soul each a day nowadays.
When mom is cold to me, that’s means there is something wrong and I have to retrieve back my soul
When mom is warm too me that’s mean everything’s alright
Mom is being like that to me is because the universe forces me to do my best on my path so that I can give back to the world.
But this time, mom’s coldness can’t never be changed unless I have surgery for my rectal prolapse and get back to my normal state.
I just don’t feel it’s right to immediately work to earn money for surgery with my current state of partial Soul loss, just to want to end mom’s coldness as soon as possible.
With rectal prolapse grade 4, it makes me want to immediately want surgery for it, by working to earn money. But I just don’t feel it’s right to do anything with partial Soul loss right now.
The thing is I’m in dilemma right now.
Which is the wiser choice?
To immediately work or to retrieve my soul so that I can know the best thing to do?
Hi Lupin,
“But I just don’t feel it’s right to do anything with partial Soul loss right now.”
Why? If I was in your position, I would focus on fixing my bodily issue first. If you’re aware of Maslow’s hierarchy of Needs, safety comes first. That also means physical safety. We all deal with a degree of soul loss, so please don’t let the ideal of trying to fix it get in the way of solving your prolapse issue. Take care 💜
The painful experiences I had as a sensitive, introspective person still affect me today. However, now that I know myself and have embraced my “quirk” side, I feel more whole, and everything I went through has shown me a different path. I realized that my greatest suffering came from comparing myself to others and to everyday standards that didn’t align with my true self. So whenever I suffered from criticism, bullying, or gaslighting, it wasn’t because I was weak or unable to fit in, but because the fear of rejection and the insecurity of not belonging made me place others’ opinions above my own. The most encouraging thing is that, when you read Frankl and other great authors, you see that not fitting in and being different is not a bad thing; on the contrary, it’s a strength. But we must accept that “being yourself” has a price: you will be criticized. Still, the benefits far outweigh the costs, because through self-knowledge you begin to love and accept yourself, and other people’s opinions lose their power. Another lesson I learned is that choosing to love yourself also requires setting clear boundaries, because some people are extremely invasive, and you will need to defend yourself tooth and nail, like a knight protecting his kingdom.
I’m so glad you’ve come to a place of peace with yourself, Hans. It was a pleasure to read your comment :)