Reclaim your power by doing the shadow work
“The shadow self is a concept developed by psychologist Carl Jung. It is also known by many other terms – the id, the alter ego, and more. It refers to the sides of ourselves that we wish to hide – our negative, dark emotions and traits. Our shadows are the parts of us that we have learned to hide from others, out of fear of rejection, shame, or backlash. While our shadows can be linked to our sexualities, they can also extend beyond our sexual selves. For some, it might be characteristics like laziness, insecurity, or other negative aspects that we might not even consciously link with ourselves, especially when we deny these aspects of ourselves. Though we may work hard to hide our shadow selves, they will inevitably present themselves in different parts of our lives.”
Instead of hiding our shadows, it is important that we acknowledge and accept every part of ourselves – including the scary, unacceptable parts. Without addressing our shadows, we can find ourselves unable to properly address issues in our personal, social, and professional lives, and even attract partners who exemplify these negative characteristics within us. This can result in these negative traits – jealousy, anger, sloth, and others – being amplified in our relationships, both platonic and romantic. However, through self-awareness and reflection, we can look upon our shadows with empathy and care in order to accept and better ourselves. Though it may seem terrifying to attempt to bring out the parts of ourselves that we are most insecure about, it is vital that we see and love every part of ourselves to become a whole person. To this end, this resource will offer you the ideas, outlooks, and practices that you need to become aware of and gain peace with your shadow self.