Facing the bits of ourselves, we prefer to ignore, we shove into a box and hide in a dark place. Why? Because looking at, considering, and accepting our darker side is a challenge.
Carefully studying ourselves, being as objective as possible, taking the time to analyze parts of ourselves that we may have blocked out. So why go back and look at these parts? Why bring forth the hurt and pain? Well, because it helps clear the 'Shadows,' allowing us to reach our full potential in the coming future, to live our lives for the highest good.
Shadow work gives us a fuller understanding of ourselves and our reality. As you gain a sharper focus and better insight into who and why you are.
The shadow is the “dark side” of our personality. It consists chiefly of primitive, negative human emotions and impulses like rage, envy, greed, selfishness, desire, and the striving for power. The majority of us protect our 'self-image' from others; we show our public faces, the face and personality we feel are acceptable.
Exploring your Shadow leads to greater energy and personal awakening (as you've now made space in Mind, Body, and Spirit). It supports greater authenticity and creativity.
More importantly, it's a pathway to mature adulthood, not something everyone achieves. Anything that does not relate to how we have consciously chosen to 'BE' ends up in the Shadow bin—all the things we don't like about ourselves, the incidents we don't own, the thoughts and actions we choose to ignore—they are Our Personal Shadows.
Personal Shadow: the disowned self, representing the parts of us we no longer claim as our own. This can include Positive qualities also.
Ignoring these negative qualities is not supportive; they don't actually go anywhere. They embed themselves in our subconscious and can pop out on those days, creating confusion in our daily reality.
Openness to experience and the beginnings of Existential living. This is living in the here-and-now. Reality insists that we not live in the past or the future—the one is gone, the other is not anything at all, yet!
The present is the only reality we have.
Mind you, that does not mean we should not remember and learn from our past. Nor does it mean we should not plan or even daydream about the future. Just recognize these things for what they are: memories and dreams, which we are experiencing here in the present. (Carl Rogers 1902 - 1987)
Organismic trusting (Mind, body, and Soul). We should allow ourselves to be guided by the organismic valuing process. We should trust ourselves; do what feels right, what comes naturally. Keeping in mind that what is meant is:
Trust your real self, the Soul and Spirit of you. Only you can know what your real self has to say if you are open to experience and living existentially! In other words, organismic trusting assumes you are in contact with the actualizing tendency. Or you have a desire and ability to be open and honest with yourself about who you are, warts and all.
You want to make those changes in understanding. You want to move forward with your life positively. You are brave and courageous in wanting to know SELF!!!
By Liz Wilde... Life Coaching with a difference @ Walk With Me Empower you!
