According to Carl Jung, the shadow self is the representation of all the parts of ourselves we hide, suppress, deny and reject. These are all the traits we think of as very negative, undesirable and unacceptable. They are in direct conflict with how we want to be seen by others and how we want to perceive ourselves.

We push those parts of us into the shadow -consciously or unconsciously- because we don't want them or can't accept them because we are embarrassed and wish they weren't there.

But all these fine details are not bad per se. They become heavy and dark because we abandoned them. They become obstacles because they are unloved.

When conflicts, emotions, talents, memories get pushed away into the shadows, they thrive there unseen in the darkness and at some point they will be so powerful that they start controlling your life without you realizing it. They become hidden motivations for most of your behaviour.

Note: This post is an extract of a chapter from my book-in-progress.