Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Inner Work summary
Mathew Micheletti
Ashley Cottrell
An Invitation to True Freedom and Lasting Happiness
17 mins
Brief summary
The Inner Work is a comprehensive guide to personal growth and emotional well-being. It offers practical tools and insights to help individuals develop self-awareness, cultivate resilience, and create meaningful connections with others.
Table of Contents
The Inner Work
Summary of 5 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 5
You deserve inner peace and limitless love
The journey of self-discovery is the most important one you will ever embark upon. It is a journey back to your true self – the person you are meant to be when all superficial layers are stripped away. This path will not always be easy or comfortable – along the way, you’ll undoubtedly run into challenges and setbacks. But – you have a map to guide you if you choose to follow it.
The first step in your journey is believing that you are ready and deserving of the peace, fulfillment, and purpose you seek. Do not compare yourself to external standards set by others. You alone get to define what brings you happiness and what you need to feel whole. So, why settle for less than you know in your heart you deserve? Make sure to give yourself permission to envision the very best life has to offer.
The next thing to understand is that consciousness shapes our reality. And our underlying beliefs, assumptions, and perspectives act as a lens that colors how we experience the world. Problems that seem to happen "to us" over and over again are rooted in this inner consciousness, and we carry them in our thoughts wherever we go. But to create outer change, we must first shift what happens within.
Most of us seek satisfaction from external sources: relationships, career success, or material possessions. Sometimes, we reject these things preemptively out of fear of disappointment. But grasping for more or detaching out of cynicism keeps us stuck in the same cycle. We look outside ourselves for fulfillment, never realizing it can only be found from within.
That’s the crux of inner work – that true freedom comes from freeing your mind. When you stop believing you need something external to be happy, you discover happiness was inside you all along. It is a state of being, not a destination you arrive at. The inner work involves removing the obstacles that obscure this ever-present inner peace. It turns out the treasures you seek are already in your possession, waiting to be claimed.
So, start believing you deserve these gifts, that you are worthy of profound love, joy, and wholeness. Your potential is limited only by your perspective. To unleash your full capability, choose to see your life through the eyes of unconditional love and acceptance.
One way to start doing this is to work with affirmations. These can reveal self-limiting beliefs very quickly. Pay attention to how your mind and body respond when you say aloud "I am already worthy" or "I am satisfied with my life." Does this feel true or false? Examining your resistance helps dismantle it over time. Keep aligning your thoughts with the notion that you deserve fulfillment.
When you feel the impulse to resist opportunities for happiness, pause and sit with the discomfort mindfully. Seek to understand where this reluctance comes from and slowly unlearn it. Make your inner dialogue an ally, not an enemy. Notice when it speaks out of envy, frustration, or even regret. Know that the voice itself causes suffering, not the external situations. You have the power to choose peace.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Inner Work?
Key ideas in The Inner Work
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Inner Work about?
The Inner Work (2019) is a profound yet practical guide that provides the essential tools to break free and unlock your highest potential. Integrating spiritual insight and psychology, it leads you step-by-step through the inner transformation required to end pain and reclaim inner peace.
The Inner Work Review
The Inner Work (2022) is a thought-provoking book that delves into the depths of personal growth and transformation. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers practical strategies for self-reflection and self-improvement, empowering readers to navigate their inner landscapes with greater self-awareness.
- Backed by research and expert insights, the book provides a well-rounded understanding of various psychological concepts, enabling readers to make more informed decisions.
- Through its engaging narratives and relatable stories, the book brings the topic of inner work to life, keeping readers captivated and ensuring the exploration of one's inner world is anything but boring.
Who should read The Inner Work?
- People who feel trapped by feelings of inadequacy, negativity, and shame
- People who know they’re not living up to their full, radical potential
- Anyone interested in living joyfully, mindfully, and wholeheartedly
Categories with The Inner Work
Book summaries like The Inner Work
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
36 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Inner Work FAQs
What is the main message of The Inner Work?
The main message of The Inner Work is to prioritize inner growth for a fulfilling and meaningful life.
How long does it take to read The Inner Work?
The reading time for The Inner Work varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Inner Work a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Inner Work is definitely worth reading. It offers valuable insights and practical tools for personal development and self-discovery.
Who is the author of The Inner Work?
The author of The Inner Work is Mathew Micheletti & Ashley Cottrell.
What to read after The Inner Work?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Inner Work, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen
- Born For This by Chris Guillebeau
- Love + Work by Marcus Buckingham
- Saving Aziz by Chad Robichaux with David L. Thomas
- The Happiness Cure by Anders Hansen
- No Nonsense Spirituality by Brittney L. Hartley
- The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest
- Think Like a Psychologist by Patrick King
- Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
- The PLAN by Kendra Adachi