There is a part of us we freely show to others, and a part we prefer to keep hidden in the shadows.
We all do this. And generally it is not a problem as long as we can remember.
The problem comes when we “forget” or otherwise become blind to our shadow self. When this happens, many hidden motives drive our lives.
For instance:
A veiled fear might push us to overcompensate at work.
A secret sin might lead us to withdraw from relationships.
A hidden desire might drive our online activities.
A buried ache might thrust us toward an inappropriate relationship.
Our shadow is not inherently bad. In fact, we often have many good desires in the shadows – the desire for sexual variety, for example.
However, when our shadow operates blindly it can cause havoc in our life. Our work suffers, our relationships breakdown, and we might even seek sinful outlets when we are driven by deep and concealed motives.
Freedom comes when we can face and accept our shadow.
This is not agreeing every aspect is good, but rather keeping an open posture toward the good, the bad, and the ugly in ourselves.
This leads to freedom.
When we accept the fear that our work might not measure up, we are free to work hard without compulsively overcompensating.
When we accept our deep desires and aches, we are free to consciously pursue and cultivate meaningful relationships.
The culprit to many of our life’s frustrations and disappointments can be traced back to elements in our rejected shadow.
Get acquainted with your shadow side. What are those hidden motives driving your life?
Find freedom and wholeness by accepting your shadow.
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