14. Motivation

Although running is quite easy and many like to jog regularly, not everyone runs a marathon. Why should you run a marathon at all? When I started jogging a long time ago, a marathon was out of the question. But at some point, I felt that I could run longer and longer and longer. I ran the first marathon out of curiosity, after that I realized that there was more to come. Where's the limit?

The goal on our inner path is an expansion of consciousness, are higher levels of consciousness. But who needs it? Even if we wanted to, there is no guarantee that we will achieve it. Do we even have to reach it or can we just jog on? That is exactly what I recommend. Let's just get out of here and see what happens. If we like it, we'll move on. If not, we stop. But do we get anything out of it? Where does that leave us? If we start to go the inside way, in time our habits, our likes and dislikes, our way of life will automatically change. These changes are individual. They are different in each person, come faster or slower, are weaker or stronger. They come by themselves, we cannot force them and we cannot prevent them. These changes are not the goal of our path, but they help us to achieve our goal. Below are just a few examples:


1. Health: On the inside way we gain access to the autonomous nervous system, to the lower levels of consciousness, which automatically take care of all bodily functions. They guarantee our health and keep our body alive. We change our biology and significantly improve our health. In various scientific studies and researches, the following positive effects of meditation on our body have been found, among others

• hypotension
• Reduction of the resting pulse rate in a healthy natural way
• Increase of blood circulation with simultaneously reduced heart rate
• Improvement of the immune system
• Slowing down mental and physiological aging processes
• Effect against depression, insomnia, overweight and headaches
•  Improvement of brain performance
• Increase in communication skills

2. Addiction: An addiction is something that we think we can no longer give up, even if it makes us sick and unhappy. We become addicted to substances such as drugs, alcohol, nicotine, but also the body's own hormones, which are produced and released by emotions. This is then manifested in compulsive behavior, such as the pathological striving for recognition, the (adrenaline) kick or sex, the occurrence of ravenous attacks, coma binge drinking or consumption orgies or simply the compulsive grab for the next cigarette. We have lost sight of the healthy measure, damage our body and often even accept illness and death. On the inside way, we learn to overcome our addiction.


3. Sleep: The path to the inside leads to less tension, less stress, and better stress relief, which means that fewer relaxation phases are necessary. Our need for sleep is regulated to a healthy level and the quality of sleep is increased.


4. Physical sensation: Researchers from North Carolina have found that regular meditation exercises can significantly reduce the sensation of pain. In the experiment, it turned out that pain can be relieved just as well through meditation as through strong medication.


5. Intuition: Intuition, our gut feeling, is nothing magical or paranormal. It is a natural ability of man, which has atrophied in many people as a result of our rationalized, externally controlled way of life. Through our exercises, through concentration, mindfulness, and meditation we can train our intuition, comparable to a muscle, and thus strengthen and expand our intuitive abilities. We can perceive ourselves, our fellow human beings and situations more precisely, understand them better and come to adequate decisions and actions.


In summary, we become healthier, more attentive, more sensitive, more efficient and happier on our inside way. And this without expensive drugs and package inserts with endless descriptions of the risks and side effects. However, these examples are only possible side effects. They are not the goal of our path. The goal is not external changes, but inner growth.