Discovering our shadow side and facing ourselves
It's wonderful to have one's own life illuminated, to have a positive outlook on what happens to you, or to be appreciated by others. But these feelings are perhaps overrated in today's popular culture. In fact, in order to achieve all these things, one must first confront and communicate with the dark side within oneself. We can also call this dark side the shadow. Discovering your shadow side will bring you many benefits.
The dark side of the human being, or according to Jungian psychology, the shadow, actually refers to the sides that they don't want to see. Pain, gloomy stories, shame, wounds from the past, parts that don't belong to you. Our instinct, quite understandably, is to run away from these dark sides. And most of us do so without realizing how deeply mistaken we are.
Facing and meeting one's dark sides increases the chances of finding true happiness. Darkness and light are like two opposite ends of a straight line. Therefore, accepting the dark side means that you are really in the light. But don't think that this is something so easily understood and superficial. Recognizing one's own dark side is actually something that is learned and continuously developed.
You feel complete When you allow yourself to encounter the full range of your humanity, you gain a unique and fulfilling experience. Seeing how many complex parts of you there are starts to give you happiness.
Your awareness increases Think of awareness and mindfulness as muscles that will actually take shape as you work on and tolerate your uncomfortable feelings and thoughts. Mindfulness exercises affect the frontal cortex at the front of the brain. This is the area of the brain where reasoning is most intense.
Your relationships improve What we are not aware of, or don't want to be aware of, can attract other people's attention. However, as you get to know your dark sides, you can easily tell the people around you which one is yours and communicate in a healthier way. You may be interested in: Admit to yourself what you judge someone for; it is you.
Your health improves Whatever it is about yourself that you don't want to know or are afraid to find out, it will continue to exist. Your body will come up with creative solutions to transfer the stress of this situation to other things, such as headaches, tension in the shoulders, bleeding ulcers or more serious health problems. Body and mind are inseparable. As you touch the things that occupy your mind and that you don't want to say to those people, your body begins to soften and become full of life again.
You transform. It requires an inner capacity to face one's own dark sides. It takes you out of being a child or an adolescent and allows you to become a conscious adult. Therefore, confronting your dark sides will help you mature and take an important step in your personal development.
The next time you are sitting somewhere alone and you think that something is troubling you, something that makes you think, instead of looking at the screen or distracting yourself with other things, try to meet your inner dark sides.
