I’ve held the space of the Work for others for the last 12 years now (this is 2024). It is often hard to describe what exactly it is and does. Here is one thing that clients say to me regularly:
“I have done therapy for many years. This Work has brought me further in the space of just a few weeks.”
The same is true for me.
I absolutely adore Inquiry aka The Work of Byron Katie. Words are just not strong enough to describe how I feel about this practice – the 4 questions and turnarounds. This process has given me so much freedom, and so much joy. It has turned my anger into understanding, my fears into love, and my judgments into compassion and clarity.
And all I ever did was answer 4 questions.
“Byron Katie’s Work is a great blessing for our planet.”
Eckhart Tolle
What I am saying here about the Work is NOT what Katie says. Katie is all about less labels and more freedom. Me, I’m still stuck in trying to explain stuff 🤪😂💖
This Work is NOT-Therapy.
If you only need to be heard and acknowledged in your pain and maybe find some different ways to interact with your tormenters, and that is the extend of the healing you want for now, then this is NOT for you.
BUT if you have hurt for long enough and you are ready to move on, to really let go, to transcend your pain and your story of what happened, to bask in your love for your glorious self, then let’s do the Work.
The Work Invites You To Extend Your Humanity
I’ve been thinking about why it is that the Work can take you this extra step, these extra steps to freedom and to the awareness of deep joy – despite it being clearly not therapy, not counseling, not taught at university or colleagues, those monuments of respectability and scientific knowledge.
I think it is because Katie’s state of mind is no longer identified as only human but as consciousness.
Therapy, and most mental health sciences, operate within the understanding of what it means to be human. Scientific thought has to be coherent within what we already know or it won’t be accepted.
Scientific thought and understanding are an integral part of consciousness. Yet, if you limit your understanding to scientific knowledge you miss the other pieces.
When you follow Katie’s questions to the limit of YOUR understanding you have placed yourself outside of that box. You get to have a much wider perspective (unlimited, if you want it) of what humans ARE because you are looking IN – not out.
This state of mind is intoxicating and liberating.
The Work isn’t just a way to feel better within your life – although it will help you with that as well – it is a way to meet your authentic and living self, and to melt ALL of your past pain in the awareness of unconditional love (if you want that).
You can use the Work to just be a better human, doctor, parent, child, or partner – or you can use it to grow yourself toward being a conscious awareness of life.
It’s a way to be Zen, to be in flow with the Tao, to meet God in your own heart – and words always fall short.
As one of my clients said:
“My husband and I grew closer. My friends from many moons ago are starting to reappear in my life as if by magic – and they have open hearts, too.
My family and I have started to mend what was torn and it has become a beautiful tapestry of love. My heart is forgiving…and forgiving…and forgiving…and it’s ADDICTIVE!
I’m not certain, but I’m suspicious that my heart ACTUALLY grew.
As I journey inward looking for the truth it has opened my heart. Stefanie E Skupin, DVM says “love will break your heart wide open”. I cannot disagree. I had no idea when I started working with her that life could be like this.
This morning has been quiet. When I awoke I took my time tending to myself. Checking in with my body and my mind. I fought off some old thought patterns and reminded myself of the inherent truths I have found over the last few months. I was happy to be awake. I was happy, genuinely, to be alive. If you know anything about me…this has not been the case for so long. Just last year I was ready to take my own life.”Meagan Parks
Looking back over the last 15 years I can barely recognize myself anymore. Except I do – what has gotten less are the murky layers of separation and stress, and my kind, generous, and light nature, which was always underneath, is now more visible.
Do you know how they always tell you to love yourself?
And isn’t it often just a tad difficult?
Well, through inquiry, I do love myself, and it happens more so each day, as I keep questioning my thinking.
I’m certain that you can as well.
The School For The Work Of Byron Katie
At the School for The Work of Byron Katie in 2012 (Bad Neuenahr, Germany), I spent 10 days watching hundreds of people do The Work, supported by Katie and a substantial group of certified facilitators. I witnessed pretty much any situation that human beings believe stressful be turned into understanding, acceptance, love, and joy. I saw clarity emerge and light shine into the darkest corners of the human mind.
Sitting with Katie is simply delicious.
She is clear, sharp, wise, and funny.
Katie is fortunate, from our point of view, to have woken up to this state of clarity – and yet, she went through darkness and pain to get there. In that, she is not so different from us. Anyway, that’s what she says, and until the time I am proven differently, I choose to believe her.
Katie’s Work is a path to freedom, to self-realization.
And if that goal is too lofty for you at this point, inquiry will help you find your joy, clarity, and own inner wisdom in any situation you choose. It will help you let go of stress, understand yourself and others better, and liberate energy for positive and kind action.
All you need to do is answer the questions and find some turnarounds.
You can join me on a brief tour of the Work here
To learn more about The Work you can go to thework.com. Everything you need to do The Work is available to you free of charge.
Or you can choose to start your journey here – apply for a complimentary strategy session, check out The Leaders Work Tools, a course, or private facilitation.
