Blush logo

Know your "dark side" and unleash the great potential of life

The body's mind

By danielkmay jhPublished 2 years ago 6 min read
Like

Do we always do something that we can't believe in our lives:

Sudden sorrow and delight, rage, abuse, abnormal behavior, etc.

Don't ignore these out-of-control experiences, try to understand the dark side of yourself, it is our friend, can release our potential, so that we can further realize who we are.

People's character has two sides, and everyone has its normal side and dark side. It's the exact opposite of our personality mask (the side we want to show to others).

The dark side we are talking about here is psychologically called the "shadow self", proposed by psychologist Carl Jung. The shadow self is one of them, an animal instinct in our spirit. But we unconsciously hide this side.

But what if the dark side is not our enemy, but our friend?

What if accepting the dark side enables us to develop our potential and learn more about ourselves?

01

"Shadowed self" does not mean "dark personality"

"in fact, the shadow self can also bring some benefits, but it is limited and does not show it."

Dr. Mike Dennis of England explained that from childhood, we began to pay attention to what things are not allowed by society, such as fighting, and which things are not allowed by the family, such as being too introverted.

So we learn to suppress these unpopular behaviors into the shadow self, and because of the lack of expression, these behaviors become buried time bombs and naughty boys who are ready to make trouble.

The shadow self is often not included in our conscious spiritual world. It is primitive, incongruous, and even tends to self-destruct. Any strong emotion can be a trigger for shading the self, such as anger, repression, and love. Substances that reduce self-control, such as alcohol and drugs, can also cause shadows to emerge.

Jung believes that it is our second self that emerges when we are in a state of shock, confusion, indecision, etc., and controls our actions.

We can gain an in-depth understanding of our inherent reaction patterns through continuous self-observation, timely reflection, and communication with others, so as to see how our shadow self manifests itself.

02

Shadow is a double-edged sword.

The next point is: we can't eliminate the shadow self, but we can reconcile with it.

Dr. Del Maders, a psychoanalyst at the Jung School, said: "after knowing the shadow self, I know what kind of reaction I'm going to make, so I can change what I haven't done yet."

In addition, many books, plays and films, such as Star Wars, were born in the process of the author's exploration of the shadow self. Although not everyone can become a best-selling author, it is always a good thing to explore the shadow self, and we can look for potential that hovers in the "dark side" rather than living in fear.

Dennis also thought it was good to face the shadow of self:

"We should master all our qualities, and if there is a level that we are not aware of, there is no way to talk about understanding ourselves. We should integrate it into our character, otherwise it will be our shackles, because without it, we are only half a person, a parody of ourselves. "

Some experts compare shadow to fertilizer: dirty and smelly, but if used properly, it can make our flowers better and more beautiful. Therefore, exploring the shadow self not only does no harm, but can release our potential and make us more aware of our nature.

Jung said that realizing that we have such an opponent in our hearts can make people live a more humble and fulfilling life. In addition, it takes a lot of effort to suppress the dark side that you don't want to show. Learn to accept the shadow of yourself, and you can save these energies.

03

How to know your shadow self

Everyone has a shadow self, but everyone's shadow self is different.

Completing the following exercises can help you familiarize yourself with your shadow self. When you answer the questions, please write down the answers as the basis for analysis.

1. Make a list of five traits you hate, find a person of the same sex you hate, and see which of these traits he or she fits.

2. Recall a scene where you were angry or overreacted and find out what made you angry. Is it because of someone's words and deeds?

3. When you were a child, did you ever have nicknames such as "rebel", "smart", "jinx" and so on? when you grow up, do you have your own way of life? do you deliberately keep your distance from others? do you talk loudly to get other people's attention? write down the opposite role or behavior for each of your answers.

4. Have you ever dreamed or fantasized about doing something that shocked or even disgusted you?

5. Have you ever felt angry and denied when a friend picked on a certain aspect of your character?

6. Have you ever dreamed of showing up naked or strangely dressed on an important occasion? if so, what kind of occasion is it to date, go to school or go to work and get together with friends or family?

Sort out the answers to questions 1-5 and group the repetitive features. These are the dominant features of your shadow self. Then look at the answer to question 6, which is the area of your life that is most significantly affected by shadows.

If dreams are related to multiple friends, ask yourself if you are honest with these friends or if you want to change your image among friends.

04

Make good use of your shadow self

The following is the method of the Jung School of Psychology.

1. Dream recording

"the shadow self is often expressed as someone in the dream, and someone of the same sex and age with you, who makes you feel uncomfortable or scared, or chases you." Dr. Mike Dennis said. Write down the plots and emotions of these dreams. They can reveal a lot of your anxieties and desires.

2. Shorthand

Take a stack of A4 paper every morning, and the first thing you do when you get up is to write down all the thoughts that come to mind as quickly as possible. Don't think about neat handwriting or fluency. Write at least two pages, each full. This method helps you move beyond your conscious mind, come into direct contact with your shadow self, and find out what you really think and feel.

3. Creative method

Jung believes that the use of oil painting, sketching, sculpture and other artistic means can show our shadow self. This method has nothing to do with art talent, the goal is to find symbols that can represent the shadow self, if you are really not good at art, you can use listening to music, playing, dancing, writing, cooking, graffiti and other means.

4. Trial method

Jung believes that if you want to use the shadow self and explore your potential, you must try something you are not familiar with. Make a list of things you would do if I were that kind of person, such as rock climbing, going to the cinema alone, and try one of them every month.

body
Like

About the Creator

danielkmay jh

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.