To Rise Above You Have To Be Willing to Dive Deep Within
Carl Jung said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Over time, I’ve realized how deeply true this is—and how understanding yourself and committing to your Inner Work is the most meaningful work you can do in this lifetime. To me, it’s the work, and why I resonate so strongly with Alchemy as the Magnum Opus, or “The Great Work.” Doing my own Inner Work and supporting others on their journeys is what I know my purpose is.
Yet, despite more people waking up—seeking therapy, healing, and rediscovering forgotten truths—there’s still a collective resistance to going inward. My intention here is to share not only why your Inner Work matters and how it shapes your life but also to extend an invitation to enter new ways of being.
In the Western world, many of us are oriented outward—focused on external events, accomplishments, and societal expectations. There’s no judgment in this; if you choose that path, all power to you. But I struggle with how often the wisdom of Greater Things is sacrificed for the sake of trivial pursuits. What’s the point of a luxury car, a perfect body, or a massive bank account if you can’t stand to be in your own presence? Often, these “achievements” are attempts to prove something to ourselves—an unexamined internal need.
Here’s the thing: if you’re not happy with nothing, you won’t be happy with everything. Happiness and contentment aren’t found outside of you. They are gifts you offer yourself by releasing the conditions you’ve placed upon yourself. The willingness to let go of external validation and instead turn inward is where transformation begins.
For many of us, our wounds become our identity. Take the “I’m not good enough” wound—it shapes who we think we are. Because we’re collectively focused outward, we spend our lives running from it, avoiding its integration, and filling the void with busyness, travel, or even stagnation. But your wounds aren’t meant to be outrun; they’re meant to be alchemized.
This requires a radical shift: awareness, accpeptance, and appreciation. It means stepping into truth. As Leland Val Van De Wall said, “The degree to which a person can grow is directly proportional to the amount of truth they can accept about themselves without running away.”
The truth I hold is this: we are all made in the image of the Divine. Regardless of faith, spirituality, sexuality, ethnicity, gender expression, political idealogy, or any other label, we are all expressions of The Great Mystery. Remember, “you are not a problem to be solved; you are a miracle to be explored.” You can have fun while exploring the miracle of your existance.
For those of us with trauma or challenging upbringings, this truth may feel distant. But it’s not unattainable. Here are some ways to bring this awareness into your daily life:
Let go of the belief that something is wrong with you. You don’t need to fix, optimize, or prove yourself to be worthy of love and belonging. Your worth is inherent. The sooner you accept this, the more fun you will have in life.
Focus inward. If Divinity resides within you, let every trigger become an invitation to explore yourself more deeply. Remember Gabor Maté’s wisdom: “Trauma is not what happens to you; it’s what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you.” Healing begins within.
Stop fighting yourself. The parts of you you’ve disowned, hated, or wished didn’t exist are there for a reason. Trying to “get rid” of them only backfires. Instead, offer them radical acceptance and space to exist. You may be surprised how they transform into your greatest allies.
Your wounds are your greatest teachers, holding the wisdom needed to step into your most empowered, authentic self. This work is deep, but it doesn’t have to be heavy—it can also be playful. Every step is an invitation. Honoring your sovereignty means being honest about which invitations you’re ready to accept and which you’re not.
For me, I choose to follow my intuition, embrace all parts of myself with love, and witness my transformation unfold naturally—without fear or shame driving the process. It requires steadfast commitment in a world that doesn’t always understand or value this work, but I believe it’s worth everything.
If this resonates with you and you feel ready to explore this path, I’m here to guide you. As the Sovereign Alchemist, I’m experienced in facilitating deep, meaningful transformations—not only in myself but in others. Let’s journey together to uncover your most honest, authentic, and empowered self.
Matthew
