Have you ever been extremely angered by someone’s behavior, while others remained indifferent to it? Carl Jung, the great psychologist, believed these reactions are related to our “Shadow.”

What is the Shadow?

The Shadow consists of those parts of our personality that we dislike, hide, or have repressed. These traits can be anger, jealousy, selfishness, or even suppressed talents. We send them to the “unconscious,” but they do not disappear.

Why Must We Face Our Shadows?

Projection

When we don’t acknowledge our shadow, we project it onto others. If you intensely hate “liars,” perhaps a part of you wants to lie, but you don’t allow yourself to do so.

Releasing Psychic Energy

Keeping shadows in the dark consumes a lot of our psychological energy. Accepting them leads to a sense of lightness and integration.

Practical Exercise: Shadow Hunting

To find your shadows, pay attention to your judgments:

  1. What trait in others makes you excessively angry?
  2. Is it possible that this trait (even in a small amount) exists within you?
  3. Be kind to yourself and say: “I am human too, and I might possess this trait sometimes.”

Conclusion

A true mirror is not one that shows only beauty, but one that reflects the whole reality. Accepting the dark side is a huge step toward inner peace.