Facing fears and embracing a sense of the whole self

One of Jung’s most profound and often daunting concepts is that of ‘the Shadow’, this being the parts of ourselves that we prefer to hide or deny.

Do you have behaviours you are not proud of? Traits in how you naturally think but don’t particularly feel comfortable with? Moments you did something and wish to forget?

‘The Shadow’ consists of traits and impulses that we often find uncomfortable or unacceptable, and as a result, they are relegated to the unconscious. A way of coping with some of these hard truths by kind of ignoring or not acknowledging them in ourselves.

However, Jung argued that acknowledging and integrating our shadow is key to personal growth and self-awareness.

Facing your shadow involves a willingness to confront your fears, insecurities, and less flattering qualities. Not easy but something I have found comes easier for most with age and experience (and perhaps most importantly, a willingness and desire to grow, evolve or change).

For example, if someone is overly proud of their kindness, they may suppress their capacity for anger. Yet, anger can be a valid emotion, necessary in setting boundaries and as a key defence mechanism to life’s wrongs. The goal of shadow work isn’t to become perfect, but to become whole by embracing every part of ourselves. A sense of balance and acceptance of what is needed as a whole ‘self’.

Alongside the shadow, Jung emphasised the concept of the ‘Self’. The self is the overarching unity of our conscious and unconscious minds. The self represents a state of balance and wholeness, where we no longer live in fragments of our personality but strive towards a harmonious integration of all parts of our being.

This process of psychological integration is known as individuation—the journey towards becoming your true, authentic self. Powerful stuff!

Quick tips for facing your shadow:

1. Self-reflection: Journaling or meditative reflection on your reactions and emotions can help bring hidden aspects of your personality to light.

2. Observe projections: Notice when you react strongly to others. Often, what irritates us in others is a trait we’ve disowned in ourselves.

3. Seek support: Deep self, discovery work can be intense/ challenging, so working with a therapist or support group can provide a safe environment for exploration.

Next week we move on to personality archetypes and understanding some of our resulting behavioural patterns.