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Healing the shadow is probably the quickest, easiest and most powerful
way to increase self-esteem, self-acceptance and self-love.
What is the Shadow?
The shadow is a term coined by famous Swiss psychologist Carl Jung.
Jung coined the term 'shadow-self' to make a distinction between
1. the traits you are unhappy to identify with (shadow)
2. what traits you are happy to hold
within your self-image (ego)
In other words, as you go about your life you have an image of...
what you are like
ways in which you behave
what others think of you
Let us call this your self-image. It is an idea or a
creation within your mind that you identify as 'you'.
We might even go so far as to say you think this is you in reality.
Your shadow is whatever is left out of your idea of you plus anything
about this idea of you that you don't like, accept, or want to be
there.
You might not readily hold your hand up and say "I am
selfish", but you
might readily hold your hand up and say "I am kind" for example.
We would then say that 'kind' would be in your self-image but 'selfish'
would be in your shadow-self.
Now here comes the powerful piece, which allows you to feel better and
have a life that works a little bit better...
...in reality there
is no one particular, absolute,
undeniable, concrete, indisputable way that you are.
The way you think you are is a creation of your mind based on teachings
and experiences and an absence of awareness of the truth.
This is why you feel stuck and yuck!
It is OK that you are no particular way. You are everything in
reality, every possible experience and interpretation.
Healing the Shadow
To heal the shadow means to welcome back these traits you previously
excluded from your self-image.
Have a good, honest look at every area of your life and find two times
in your past where you were selfish.
Without judgment accept that as a human being this interpretation
called selfish will come up from time to time. Accept that as the
way
it is, then accept 'selfish' as being part of your experience of
living.
The power comes when you do this because for each trait you move from
the shadow back to the self-image, you become a little bit more whole
and content and you will notice self-acceptance and an increase in
self-esteem and self-confidence.
While the shadow is full of traits it runs your life. When it is less
full you run your life as a conscious being.
Each time you re-own a trait you have experienced a little more of
healing the shadow.
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