The Dark Side of Human Nature

As human beings, we each have a bright and a dark side to us.

Carl Jung called this dark side 'The Shadow.' 

Looking at the dark side of our personality can feel painful and uncomfortable.

Within our shadow is buried every quality and emotion that we deem 'bad' or 'unacceptable.' 

  Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Have you ever felt a burning rage and lashed out at someone, only to feel ashamed about your outburst at a later point? 

Have you secretly felt jealous of a friend and later felt disgusted that someone as nice as you could feel such a negative emotion? 

Have you felt the urge to be mean to someone and then felt shocked that YOU could think such 'low' thoughts? 

As children, almost all of us were comfortable showing our shadow side to the world. We yelled, kicked, hit, threw tantrums, hated, raged, acted mean and even felt jealous with an openness to it! We never thought our dark side was something to hide or be ashamed of until our parents, teachers and other well wishers dinned it into our heads that we must be more civilized as we grow up.

Their advice was perfectly appropriate of course. We live in a society and are expected to follow some rules and behave in an appropriate manner. This refinement is necessary and makes it easier for us to function as a species. Imagine the chaos in the world if everyone throws tantrums and behaves inappropriately whenever the shadow aspect of their personality takes over! Humanity would destroy itself. 

However, not indulging the shadow does not mean it will cease to exist. 

In the process of growing up, what many of us were not told was that having  a dark side was natural. We may not have been told that the shadow is part of every single human being. Therefore, many of us grew up believing that if someone showed their darkness, they belonged to the group of 'bad guys' and the ones who showed their bright side were the 'good folks.' 

So, in an effort to be 'good,' we fearfully suppressed our shadow whenever it made an appearance. Since we did not know what to do about it, we felt helpless and just pretended it didn't exist. However, when something is pushed under the carpet, it may not be visible to those watching but exists nevertheless.

We cannot blame our parents and well wishers for not enlightening us about the shadow, since people can only teach us what they themselves know and are comfortable living with.

However, in the current time, there is greater openness to explore hidden truths. With the rapid ascent in consciousness, people are also more empowered to face their darkness with dignity.

So, while we cannot always exhibit our shadow side or act on its impulses, it certainly helps to be aware that it exists. It helps to honour and accept our dark side. When we accept it, we create a certain wholeness within us. This wholeness can be liberating and healing. As we accept our own shadow, we also grow to accept the shadows within everyone. And this makes life easier.

So, the next time you feel a twinge of jealousy or a mean thought, and you cringe

"I am a lightworker! How can I feel this way?"  

Say to yourself,  

"I am a lightworker and that was my dark shadow popping in to say hi! I see and accept it fully. I embrace it and integrate it into the wholeness of my Being."

This will dissipate the suffocation that comes from the repression of darkness and help you feel lighter. 

Embrace your shadow while you continue to be the civilised human being that you have learnt to be!