In this podcast I want to discuss the fear of facing yourself. Using inner work and exposure to overcome fears and integrate your shadow. most people in our society are in a perpetual state of distraction, causing them to move from one distraction to another, all in avoidance of there inner situation. When unsettling thoughts arise, feelings of anxiety or depression, the human tendency is feeling uneasy. We become reflective and start to ponder on these thoughts. Do they have any merits, why do I feel like this? Is this true about my situation? Through this self enquiry, you begin to unpack your thoughts and get realisations on yourself or your scenario. However, this natural tendency can be neutralised by distraction. Distraction in many forms, from the use of substances, entertainment or any other external distraction that rips our conscious attention away from these negative thoughts and feelings. This feels good in the moment, as soon as a negative thought arises you can dampen its discomfort with a quick dopamine spike from social media, or by having a drink or taking a substance, maybe the urge to smoke a cigaret. Allowing you to switch out this state of mind into one that’s more comforting, one that is actually pleasant. This is called suppressing your emotions, and it’s at the base of every addiction. When challenging situations happen in your life, and you’re stuck in mental warfare, you reach instantly reach for the first distraction to cope. But all this does is neglect the indication from your subconscious that these thoughts and emotions are important to you, there is a reason your brain has formulated these patterns of thoughts and feelings, and to suppress them only deepens there routes and makes them come back with vengeance later on. It’s that old saying, what you resist persist. So unless you want to become addicted to external forms of distraction for your whole life in an never ending pursuit of running away from your own mind, it may be a good idea to start embracing the contents of your mind.
The neglected parts of you that your to scared to embrace has a name. In jungian psychology its called the shadow. It’s where all your deep dark secrets, insecurities and anxieties, and everything you are ashamed of lies. It lurks in the depths of your psyche influencing everything from your behaviours to thoughts and perceptions on the world. It even affects the body in ways that we still don’t really understand. a big part of your character is influenced by the parts of you that you are rather not aware of, or are to scared to embrace. Shadow work is most difficult, yet rewarding task we can embark on. Coming to terms with your insecurities, admitting that they hold you back, and then taking the required action to accept them and overcome them is a gruelling process. Full of anger and sadness, embarrassment and fear. Buts it’s the most important work, and the further along you get in shadow work, the more integrated and acceptant you become of everything that makes up you, the more energy and freeness you have.
