29-Aug-2010

The Shadow Knows

Face the Darkness

Much has been written about “the shadow”—that part of the mind that harbors secret plans and motives. Everyone has a shadow, though each manifests itself in different ways. But whether it sabotages relationships, creates anger at authority figures or perpetrates a fear of success, its presence demands a single line of approach to dealing with it: courageous honesty.

The fact is that your latent desires, secret agendas and unspoken grievances are merely thoughts. But their commonality, that they are hidden, can be very helpful in revealing you to yourself. When you deal with your darkness, you are simply bringing thoughts into light. Your job, then, is to observe these thoughts without judgment and to ask yourself, “Why did I feel the need to hide that?” The answers will surprise you. What‘s more, even after you’ve gone through years of processing in this fashion, there will always be more to unearth. Just pay attention and be thankful for the kick-start each new discovery provides. This way, you will be thankful for your shadow and all the knowledge it provides.

Recommended Read: Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self and The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self