Most of us go to great lengths to protect our self-image from anything unflattering or unfamiliar. Exploring your shadow can lead to greater authenticity, creativity, energy, and personal awakening. This introspective process is essential for reaching mature adulthood which is rarer than most think. However, we cut ourselves off from many of our best qualities too. Anything incompatible with our chosen conscious attitude about ourselves relegates to this dark side. This shadow self represents the parts of us we no longer claim to be our own, including inherent positive qualities. Think of the unconscious as everything we are not conscious of. Trouble arises when we fail to see it.

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Beneath the social mask we wear every day, we have a hidden shadow side: an impulsive, wounded, sad, or isolated part that we generally try to ignore. The Shadow can be a source of emotional richness and vitality, and acknowledging it can be a pathway to healing and an authentic life. It is a frightening thought that man also has a shadow side to him, consisting not just of little weaknesses and foibles, but of a positively demonic dynamism. The individual seldom knows anything of this; to him, as an individual, it is incredible that he should ever in any circumstances go beyond himself. But let these harmless creatures form a mass, and there emerges a raging monster. Well the Persona, according to Jung, defines who we would like to be and how we wish to be seen by the world. On the other hand , the Shadow Self is an archetype that forms part of the unconscious mind and is composed of repressed ideas, instincts, impulses, weaknesses, desires, perversions, and embarrassing fears. This archetype is often described as the darker side of the psyche, representing wildness , chaos, and the unknown. Jung believed that this latent energy is present in all of us, in many instances forming a strong source of creative energy. We are all born pure, like blank canvases.
The Flip Side of Your Dark Side
Last Updated: September 29, References. To create this article, 63 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed , times. It's not necessary a bad thing, and it doesn't mean you're evil. Most people have a dark side. Getting in touch with your dark side can actually make you a kinder, more intelligent, and more interesting person. Read scary stories or books about the occult, which are great for giving you dark topics to discuss. You should also spend time in the darkness at night to experience how it feels. For example, take a walk in the dark or sit in a dark room at home.
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