Unmasking the shadow: A psychological exploration of the shadow self and its implications
It's often when we feel undermined by life that we begin our journey of self-discovery. To give meaning to what is meaningless, to our suffering, and to heal.
Entering this world can be very confusing. You can go as far as you like, and you'll always discover more. But what these many years have taught me is that it is in the hidden recesses of our psyche that we heal best.
Our dark side is in fact our best ally in making sense of our pain and truly freeing ourselves.
It is in our unconscious part, aka our dark side, that the process of transformation resides...
The big picture
In the holistic approach to well-being, we consider well-being and people as a whole, taking into account all aspects of an individual (which is why I use a multimodal approach - several tools for different aspects of our being).
Within this complexity, we are invited to look inwards and recognise the parts of ourselves that we often repress because we fear them - the shadow parts.
The enigma of shadow parts:
The term ‘shadow’ is a concept of the famous psychologist Carl Jung, referring to the hidden and most often unconscious aspects of the personality. Shadow parts are made up of repressed feelings, unacknowledged fears and unexpressed desires. They reside in our unconscious and exert their influence on our thoughts, actions and relationships, most of the time without our realising it.
When working on these shadows meets holistic well-being
At first sight, the link between working on our shadow selves and holistic well-being is not obvious. But a closer look reveals that they are closely linked.
Bhattacharya's (2017) research shows how shadow work can help us navigate the denied and painful parts of ourselves and our experiences in order to promote healing and well-being.
Sherwood's (2013) work on holistic counselling highlights working with these shadow parts for compassionate development and healing. In doing so, they deepen Jung's theory and, taken together, show the link between holistic wellbeing and working with our shadow parts by proposing that addressing these leads to emotional release, authentic self-acceptance, mental clarity and resilience.
Emotional freedom
When it comes to well-being, emotions are an important part of the equation. Some of our deepest feelings and why we feel them are hidden deep in our shadow. Understanding them allows us to release the emotional baggage we've been carrying around for years. This process helps us to find emotional freedom and inner peace in relation to the feelings we have too often been ashamed of.
Authentic self-acceptance
True self-acceptance is about accepting our good and bad sides. Shadow work exposes our weaknesses; it makes us accept our imperfections as part of ourselves. This acceptance nourishes our self-love and compassion.
Mental clarity
Shadow work removes mental blocks associated with repressed thoughts and feelings, enabling us to build a strong mindset that is adaptable to facing life's challenges with resilience.
Resilience and transformation
My favourite thing about the process of uncovering our shadow is that we really bring our weaknesses to light, we become aware of them. This simple but powerful fact brings resilience and adaptability, because we stop being undermined by unresolved unconscious patterns.
The path to integration
Coming to terms with our repressed feelings, shame and guilt is a journey fraught with pitfalls that requires courage, self-reflection and the willingness to explore our subconscious. But by embracing and integrating our shadow selves, we achieve a sense of relief and, consequently, well-being.
Conclusion:
Working on our shadow parts can lead you to a better overall state of being making our mind a place of tranquillity and security. By recognising and taking note of the repressed part, we become aware and, over time, we heal and grow.
Embrace your shadows; they have the potential to bring authenticity into your lives.
Bibliography:
Bhattacharya, K. (2017). Walking through the Dark Forest: Embodied Literacies for Shadow Work in Higher Education and Beyond.
Sherwood, P., & Edwards, S. (2013). Holistic Counselling: Through the Shadow to Compassion.
