Have you ever found yourself spacing out? Having no real sense of where you went, yet you seemed decidedly somewhere else? Often you remember nothing of what occurred while you were “gone,” though perhaps, at times, you do? Or, you suddenly feel as though a problem has been solved or removed? Perhaps an idea occurs around a concern that has been on your heart. Or, you may find yourself not as worried. You simply know that everything will be all right no matter what.
The inward state has many names. Bring to mind the "no-mind" state, or meditation, stillness or the Still Core. This state could also be called prayer, inner listening, bliss, utter peace, calm awareness, tuned into Source/Divine Intelligence/God, awareness beyond the small self, or ego. (Ego is simply the aspect of us that has forgotten our fundamental unity and the Golden Rainbow Rays, the subtle frequency, that comprises and connects all life.) The expression no-mind “re-minds” us that there is an intelligence at play that is infinitely and absolutely more aware and wiser than our ego-minded state. Indeed, using language at all to describe the inward state is helpful only to remind us that going inward beyond human thought is vital and necessary for life and for creativity. The no-mind state is, in fact, as essential as breath and our night dreaming state. When we don’t breathe we die. When we don’t dream we go into psychosis. Our soul essence simply must plug into its Intelligence Battery to sustain itself in order to animate a physical body within our world, our cosmic hologram, whether or not our ego (scared, mini-me mind) agrees.
Children subject to trauma, such as the death of a loved one, being witness to an accident or an act of violence, chronic illness, or being abused often go inward at an early age. Beings who trust the peaceful inward state can become deeply creative and have an essence of calm and peace about them.
The world is filled with stories of individuals who trust the inward state. Scientists, musicians, visual artists, writers, child prodigies, enlightened beings, philosophers, theologians, athletes, and leaders who recognize our inherent unity and lead by respect (rather than force) are just a few examples. The list is endless. Indeed, we are all part of this list. All of us tune into our soul essence, our intuition, on a routine basis. It is only when we feel ashamed and become fearful that we may dim down the ability to access our True Nature as Divine Intelligence. The ability never truly goes away. We need simply quiet our thoughts. A quiet mind allows peace and insight to flood into awareness.
Helping children trust the inward state quite literally saves the world. It is by going within ourselves that we access an intelligence far beyond what we call “consciousness.” Bring to mind the many individuals who were disregarded in their respective fields until many more discovered exactly the same thing they had shared about in earlier times. Such beings simply tuned in and trusted the information they received. Divine Intelligence is always verifiable. The adventure is describing to others what is being accessed. Imagine what a journey this has been for grown-ups. Now imagine being a child with a deeply limited vocabulary who is perceiving in multi-dimensions. Children also often assume everyone is having the same experiences they are and that grown-ups can help them, when, in fact, most of us grown-ups are perceiving far less.
Trusting the inward state of children and adults is fundamental to bring peace into our lives and to our world. Indeed, rebellion only arises because we are not always honoring of everyone. When individuals do not trust each other and the inward state, we may choose to act out or become withdrawn and depressed, without realizing that we can go deeply within to access a far more aware intelligence that will help us communicate in gentle, life affirming ways.
Notably, Divine Intelligence also attracts to us the perfect circumstances to remind us of how truly loving and kind we are. And shows us naturally where we are forgetting love. Indeed, it is only when we forget to go inward and trust Love that we feel upset of any kind. As children and grown-ups are encouraged to go peacefully within our heart during upsets, we come to recognize the inner calm and how deeply supported we are beyond the external world. As we trust the peace of this inward state, we become more naturally helpful in the world.
Children and animals live in peace a lot. Now, because we are finally realizing that all upsets is coming from within ourselves, scores of communities on earth are increasingly supporting the inward journey and the information and gifts that result. A peaceful, supportive, loving home environment is one of these communities. As children go within their hearts, they tune into their soul calling, their heart song, how they can best be of service in the world, while also living a happy, creative, fulfilled life.
As grown-ups listen with our heart, we are able to more clearly observe a child’s tendencies and preferences. And, we are able to grasp what causes their ego/fear or a sense of shame to be triggered. As we affirm their feelings, and lovingly affirm their goodness, they are able to return to their “happy place.”
For those who are interested in supporting children to trust the inward state, expose them to many experiences and types of people and animals and experiences in the natural world so that they can feel into what lights up their soul essence. Give them plenty of time to explore different things, and demonstrate how much you enjoy seeing them explore. By experiencing many things, they will intuitively access this deeper intelligence that is serving us all always. Expressing enthusiasm for the inward state and the interests and gifts of children enlivens their own soul connection and our own. Astonishing wonder is revealed, when we offer a willingness to trust this inner journey.
Children learn to trust that their feelings are information. They learn that feelings are not good or bad. There is no such thing. Feelings are information such as, “I feel drawn toward (fill in the blank).” Or, “This causes me to feel uncomfortable, so I will remain silent, say a gentle ‘No, thank you,’ or walk away.” All of us know that it is only when we do not honor our inner knowing, our soul’s guidance, that emotion (energy-in-motion) goes haywire and we find ourselves spinning out. When we trust the inward state, we become naturally sensitive to Divine Intelligence.
We can all support children to trust this inward state during upsets. As we encourage a child (and ourselves) to go within, to breathe, to focus on their heart and what really matters during an upset, they naturally calm. What emanates from them never ceases to astonish. Intelligence and integrity flow from the core of our being. We need merely tap in. When we do, we find it easy to honor of the soul choices of everyone, and we celebrate everyone’s passion, gifts and uniqueness.
As children explore choice-making based on their intuition, which is always peaceful and helpful, rather than choice-making based on external opinion and fear, their self-trust is strengthened and their contributions to community are of a helpful nature. As we allow children to make their own choices and mistakes—within safety parameters (your intuition will guide you as to how to guide and protect)—we help them learn what making loving, intuition-based choices feels like.
Children who trust their felt-sense (intuition) are less likely to allow others to influence them in ways that do not serve them or our global community, and without making others wrong or bad. Making self or others wrong or bad is what destroys our own self-trust.
As an example of honoring the choices of children, I live and play with a little one who loves knights. I also love knights. Yet, as an intuitive, I am deeply aware that our willingness to focus on concepts, symbols and behaviors of “battles” and “fighting against” rather than focusing on the wonders and natural flow of life, keeps our awareness veiled to the Heaven we never left. (As we focus on igniting feelings/vibrations of gratitude and forgiveness we all heal.)
Significantly, this little one’s interests need to be honored or his ego (his desire to act as an individual) may rebel and turn toward truly violent behavior. So, we practice going within our heart. We study what it means to be a knight of character and integrity. We explore that it is never appropriate to take advantage of others who are not fully prepared to engage us in battle and that battle is always a last resort for when people are being hurt. We train to be the best knight we can be, which means far more than engaging in battles. We adventure with how to take care of ourselves, as well as our team of knights, because knights have great responsibility to love and care for everyone. We learn about and pray for our opponents and remember that they have families of their own who will be very sad and who will need to make great changes in their life if their mom or dad is hurt or killed in battle, just like his family would need to do if he was hurt or killed. We explore the wisdom of the peaceful warrior who battles as a last resort and never with anger. Peaceful warriors see only Love and the equal right of all to be treated with kindness and respect.
If a child is deeply drawn toward something, find the best training available for them with people you respect. Training does not need to be expensive. Ask friends and colleagues. Head to the library. Search community services and the internet. Research what people are saying about a particular program and/or instructor and ask to speak directly to clients who have experienced their services. Ask your own heart, and ask the child to go within their heart, to feel into the best way to learn about their interests.
We are all highly sensitive to our inward state, our intuition, our felt-sense (i.e., our nervous and subtle life force systems). We all know how to access our still core. The only tiny difference is that some people trust their felt-sense and inner knowing more than others. We flip back and forth regarding our trust in this felt-sense during the course of a lifetime. My own greatest moments of peace and insight come when I am exploring peacefully in nature or in meditation or am deeply listening to a child or a grown-up who is sharing with me. What ignites your trust in your still core and your felt-sense? How can you support children to trust this experience?
Most of us are aware of the phenomenal rise in the occurrence of the highly sensitive nervous system. Our expanding nervous system is evidence that we, as humans, are growing more accustomed to going within and trusting our felt-sense and the inward state. Our physiology is reflecting our expanding awareness. Yet, because we do not always remember we are soul essence, we often feel more fearful about calming down during busy or upset moments. So, our adventure is to help everyone get used to this circumstance and to honor and learn about our evolving nervous system rather than to control and/or suppress it. Those who trust the inward state realize this is the realm of miracles.
Those who trust the inward state, child or grown-ups, are deeply peaceful by nature. Unless we are aware that the inward state can be accessed in any environment, we find the busyness of the western world discombobulating. Awareness is so heightened for some that, unless an environment is deeply honoring and peaceful and without the dissonance of electro-magnetic activity that feels disruptive, they find it difficult to function at all. Just as an animal, or a herd or pack of animals, runs or hides quietly from humans who are not honoring of their presence, high sensitives who haven’t learned to trust the inward state, respond similarly, running away, acting out or withdrawing deeply within. As we honor and observe our felt-sense, we learn much about ourselves, and how to dissolve the veils in our own awareness that block the Heaven we never left. Indeed, animals and children see far more than most grown-ups, they simply don’t have the language skills to describe what they are seeing.
Interestingly the word animal is derived from the Latin anima, which means soul. And wild is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word wilde, which refers to living free within nature. Living free in nature includes paying attention to what is occurring within and around us at all times. Awareness is information that serves our existence and we are all tuning inward, whether or not we are aware of it.
Many of our most highly sensitive individuals are classified as dysfunctional or mentally ill. Some become our most brilliant thinkers, inventors and artists. Allow children and grown-ups peaceful inward time in whatever way feels natural for them. As we expand our willingness to slow down and listen within and to each other, our inner and outer awareness expands far beyond what we ever thought possible. The inward state is awesome. Literally. It is a state of awe and receptivity for Life. This is where we remember our Light and access our gifts
Each of us is deeply beautiful and intelligent in our perfect way. Divine intelligence never messes up with any of us. Be aware to regularly and with heart-felt intention, assure a child who travels inward of their beauty, their intelligence and their value to the family and in this world. You will naturally come up with delightfully creative ways to do this. It is astonishing how children respond when they realize they are beautiful and helpful. You’ve seen this a lot, I am sure. It is also helpful to share often that everyone is beautiful and valuable, since our ego (we all have one) can run amok when we forget that everyone matters. Communicating in gentle, respectful ways also helps us to relax into our own beauty and goodness and value. Respect for self and others is vital for healthy community. Everyone needs to feel a precious, priceless part of the team, as well as how to be honoring of everyone’s textures and gifts.
Children seek comfort and safety in family. Adventure with family quiet time. Be aware, a child’s ego (and our own!) may object to quiet time, so make sure everyone has something to do that is quiet and peaceful during this time (i.e., not video games, which wreak havoc with our nervous system. It’s fine to play video games every once in awhile, just play for only a short time.) Be silent, or listen to relaxing sounds or music, meditate on a flower or running water or on a piece of art. Draw, paint, sculpt, move, do stream of conscious writing. Decide what works for you and switch up your practices when your ego starts to get antsy, and by all means never judge what you find within or what a child shares.
Nature is Divine Intelligence in action. Spend fifteen to thirty minutes outside each day simply listening and observing nature. Honor nature’s gifts to us, and listen within for messages from observing nature’s flow and dance. Notice how creatures approach their own existence and the world around them. Kids absolutely love this activity when they get used to quieting their worries and thoughts. I’m invariably stunned and delighted by what comes out of them.
Because children perceive multi-dimensionally, when given the opportunity and when encouraged to trust their experience, children perceive information many adults miss. I could fill a book with such stories.
Be aware to not cause a child to become self-conscious about an ability to go inward or to perceive the external world in a way unique to our own. Whether adult or child, our ego is always unkind to us, and sometimes toward others, because it is the part of us that feels alone in this world. Bringing attention to or making fun of the inward state, or any state of mind, or over-complimenting a child on their abilities may cause them to rebel or to become self-conscious. Quietly respect the child’s space and offer kind, supportive words when you are prompted. Witnessing children teaches us much about ourselves.
Many children in earlier generations turned down their ability to go deeply within for various reasons. Kids need our support and caring even when we do not understand their experience. Children are profoundly literal. Younger ones often do not understand us and are only just beginning to gain a conceptual framework and vocabulary. Yet communication is always occurring. Kids are compasses, satellites, of our own soul essence, always seeking a bearing. We have great responsibility to recognize this. Simply honor all beings for exactly who and how they are at any age. We all have fear in our mind that is, at times, deeply afraid of the world, others and ourselves. Trust that we all deserve to be seen as perfect and vital, especially during our inward or our upset moments.
Those who spend time around children are routinely swept off our feet by the wisdom that pours forth from them when they feel safe and cherished and listened to in our presence. Just the other day, I was putting an essential oil on the feet of a sick five-year old. As I was massaging his feet with the oil, he suddenly said to his mother, who was standing nearby, “I have a new word! Forgiveness! Mommy, mommy! I made a new word! Forgiveness!” “Holy wildness, I love kids!” I thought to myself as I witnessed this event!
We might not feel like we can be fully inward all the time, at least not yet! But we’re getting there. For helping a child become accustomed to structure and to honoring their inner experience no matter what they are doing, adventure with age-appropriate list of chores, and offer them as much time-freedom as possible for accomplishing the tasks. For example, share that the dishes need to be done within an hour of dinner being over. Or, beds need to be made and clothes placed in the hamper by the time they leave for school. Or, chores need to be complete by bedtime. This also teaches children time-management and community living skills, while honoring their own biorhythms and their soul connection. Your heart will guide you perfectly for how to support them to take part in community responsibilities, while also honoring their natural tendencies.
Encourage them to trust their instincts and to adventure with creativity for accomplishing tasks. We all know our ego’s mindset that says, “My way or the highway.” As we allow children to trust their own intuition, they learn that there is more than one way to do things. They are able to more effectively master tasks and build appreciation for understanding that others may do things differently.
To support a child who might need more inward, calming time, encourage them to go within their heart during moments of upset. Be sure to never admonish a child for being upset. Just as a grown-up doesn’t want to be told we are being ridiculous or stupid during a moment of upset, such language is devastating to a child. Share that you know exactly what it feels like to be upset, and that they, and everyone, are perfect and beautiful no matter what, and that their goodness, like ours, never changes even if we make mistakes.
At any age, it is always our own choice to seek the peace and intelligence that is always inside us. If a child stuffs difficult feelings, they may come back later in more challenging ways. Honor a child’s upset and empower them to go within for more information. If you or another has been part of an upset, forgive everyone, including yourself. Explore where a misunderstanding may have occurred and what was really intended. Help their heart feel important and cherished. Forgiveness and kindness are two of the most powerful tools on the planet for bringing about peace on earth (note that heart and earth share the exact same letters) and for revealing the Heaven we never really left.
Children love hearing about love and our heart and angels who are watching over us. Explain that they can go within their heart and communicate with angels and people through Love and kindness. Children are profoundly literal. They are always listening to us, trying to translate what we say into their multi-dimensional, yet, word-language limited, world. They feel us far more than they understand our words. I have gotten questions from children who are trying to figure out how to go into their heart. This is nothing we need to try to do. It is more a matter of calming our busy mind/thoughts and letting go into Love which is all around and within us at all times. This intelligence is always present. (Think of how animals are deeply tuned in and aware almost all of the time.) From this state of relaxation, we naturally drift into peace, like we drift into sleep. Indeed, as children get used to doing this, they may fall asleep. Playing healing music and/or using pleasing aromatherapy, a favorite scent, may also help a child who is wired to calm and go within, or drift into sleep.
There are wondrous teachings and stories in our world about the value of the inward or meditative state. Explore. Mostly, it is simply about slowing down and honoring all that is within us and around us. Unplug everyday, for at least a little while. As we slow, we realize that there is nothing to fear on an existential level, even if the external world feels rather chaotic at times. Our soul essence is eternal and can never be harmed. Unplugging serves all ages and our global community, and it’s the adventure of a lifetime! Thank you for your interest in a piece of this nature.
Honoring the Inward State of Children and Grown-ups
We may observe an adult or a child “zone out” and want them to “snap out of it.” This can be disruptive to the nervous system, not to mention we may begin to think that there is something wrong with us. The “no-mind” state is deeply beneficial to our health and well-being. Such a state is honored in many cultures and spiritual practices, and an individual in a peaceful inward state may be accessing higher states of awareness that inform the quality of their lives and the state of our global community. When it is necessary to bring an individual or a group back into our world before they might be ready to return on their own, ask inside yourself for what feels best to help them return their awareness to you. Your heart’s wisdom will always guide you well.
Thank you for your time with an article of this nature.
Laura Bedford is a peace teacher and tutor. She supports children and grown-ups to dissolve upset, which allows our radiant light to shine. Her website is RadiantKids.com and TrustingOurInnerLight.org
To read her other columns or to subscribe, please click the links at the top of the page.
To read her other columns, see above and click on the link to subscribe to future writings.Check out Laura's book, The Mix Up, available through Amazon or your local bookseller. It's a light-filled book that helps us to remember love and focus on our inner light in order to forgive all upsets and errors. It shares of the illusory nature of this world as shared by our greatest peace teachers such as Jesus and Buddha.
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