How to Discover Your Shadow Self for More Inner Peace

With Groundhog day upon us, we are reminded of not only the changing seasons but also of shadows.

We at The Om Shoppe & Spa believe that the healthiest state of mind is one in which all aspects of the self are embraced. This means embracing that which we perceive to be the negative aspects of our self. Psychologist Carl Jung referred to these unconscious aspects of self, whether good or bad, which the ego has either repressed or never recognized, as the shadow self. We wanted to give some tips on how to discover and embrace your shadow self so you can live healthier and live in a state of inner peace.

In Jungian psychology, the shadow refers to an unconscious aspect of the self which the conscious ego does not identify in itself. It is a human tendency to reject the least desirable aspect of one’s personality, and for this reason the shadow is seen as entirely negative. In reality, the shadow encompasses the entirety of the unconscious which includes many positive aspects. According to Carl Jung, the shadow tends to project insecurities onto other people or the external environment. If the source of these insecurities are understood, then these projections desist and we are able to see the true nature of reality.

So how do we come to terms with the shadow self? This may seem like an incredibly difficult thing to do because our mind may be hiding from us some aspect of our selves which we do not want to recognize. For this reason, the most important part of getting to know the shadow self is taking the time to listen to what’s going on inside. Often, we fill our lives with busy activities so we are too busy to pay attention to the shadows aspects of our personality which we want to ignore. In order to counteract this tendency, it is important to give ourselves the time and space to do nothing but listen to the inner voice inside of us.

Any activity that helps you focus on what’s going on inside will help you uncover new parts of your personality you may have not even known were there. It is important to approach this practice with an attitude of acceptance and love; some parts of the self may be difficult to accept because we feel they are bad. Emotions like shame, guilt, anger, or jealousy are indications of this. Feel out your emotions, particularly the negative ones and ask yourself why they are present. Meditation, yoga, or journaling are a few simple ways to incorporate self-reflection and self-exploration into your daily life for the purpose of exploring your shadow self.

In addition, we at The Om Shoppe & Spa wanted to take a moment to highlight some of our products which are trending this week! These products will help you reach a state of peace and groundedness so you will be prepared to face your shadow self.

  1. Need some help getting into a meditative state to self reflect on your shadow self? Try a Zafu Meditation Cushion; these cushions are the perfect support for your spine, allowing you to easily and comfortably enter meditation positions.
  2. If you need some protection from the negative energies of the outside world, then Shungite is the perfect crystal for you! This crystal provides grounding energy and protection, and even repels environmental pollutants!
  3. If you’re ever stressed and finding it hard to sleep, then try some Deep Rest Essential Oil! This synergy blend of red mandarin, lavender, sweet marjoram, and mandarine petitgrain is the perfect way to get a restful nights sleep.

Have fun exploring your self!

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