The Reason Why The Darkness Of Your Shadow Self Is Actually Good For You

“It is a frightening thought that man also has a shadow side to him, consisting not just of little weaknesses and foibles, but of a positively demonic dynamism. The individual seldom knows anything of this; to him, as an individual, it is incredible that he should ever in any circumstances go beyond himself. But let these harmless creatures form a mass, and there emerges a raging monster.” – Carl Jung

The famous psychologist Carl Jung, is the one behind the idea of the shadow self. But when you take away all the fancy terminology, what does it all mean and what does it have to do with you? You’re going to need to understand this in order to fully know yourself.

What We Repress Fights Back

Matthew Ansley / Unsplash

Matthew Ansley / Unsplash

​Our mind is basically separated in two. There is the conscious mind that has all the thoughts that we are actively aware of. Then there is the unconscious mind that holds back all of our repressed ideas, instincts, impulses, weaknesses, fears, and desires.

We tend to push those away because either we find them embarrassing or we’ve grown to believe that they’re wrong and unacceptable. Those ideas are what make our darkness and chaos and create our shadow self. But, This darker side doesn’t have to be all bad…