The 6 Stations of The Inner Journey
In life there are generally 6 recognised stages that we talk about that capture where we are at in terms of how we feel about things. These stages can be applied to business as well.
Understanding these stages will help you to get clear about what stage you’re in – both in business and life – and why you are facing some of the issues that you’re facing at this particular time.
| Stage | Context |
| 1. Innocence | Hope |
| 2. Independence | Self |
| 3. Institution | Struggle |
| 4. Irritation | Freedom |
| 5. Insight | Wisdom |
| 6. Integration | Peace |
The 6 Stages Breakdown – Where Are You Now?
As an infant or small child, we start in the world of INNOCENCE. We look at everything with awe and excitement, and we are full of HOPE for what lies ahead.
During adolescence, we search for ourselves and try to find out where we fit into the world.
We ask, “Who Am I? Where do I fit in?”
We say, “I will do what I WANT to do, rather than what you tell me to do.”
We yearn for our INDEPENDENCE.
The teenage years are all about SELF.
As we get older we find that we do what is expected of us in relation to marriage, our career, buying a house, having children and so on.
This INSTITUTION phase is all about the STRUGGLE.
Just when we discover who we are and what we want in our youth, we compromise and do the norm.
After several years the IRRITATION sets in and we are searching for FREEDOM. We might be stuck in a job we don’t like, or in a long-term relationship and can spend a lot of time thinking about what could have been. After all – we have kids to feed and put through school so there’s no time to gallivant around the globe on a motorbike.
Which leads into the INSIGHT phase where we can start to get angry and frustrated about the choices we have made and the life that we are living. We are in search of WISDOM to help us understand why things are the way they are.
The final stage is known as INTEGRATION where we come to understand that we can bring all parts of ourselves into our lives … and we can be happy with the life we have and what we stand for which brings PEACE.
Applying The 6 Stages To Your Business
All of these 6 stages can be applied to business as well. It’s really important for you to understand the 6 stages of the Inner Journey in relation to both your life and business.
When we are starting out in business, we are full of hope. We want to be different and to do what no one else is doing. We want to find our ‘special offering’. But after time the business starts to look like everyone else and we are wondering, “Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?”
We can either accept that this is the ‘norm’, or we go and get some external help to assist us to get where we want to be.
Ask yourself, “Where am I now?”
How do you feel about your answer?
Look inwards and think about what you need to do to gain wisdom and peace.
The 6 Stages As A Communication Guide
Use this life-stages model with your children, and it will help you understand where they are at and how best to communicate with them.
Use it in in communication with your team … a 1st year grad would be all about SELF and you as the owner could be in STRUGGLE.
This will influence your communication.
So use this model … it can help with communication …
- in your personal life
- with parenting, and
- in your business
