How do you overcome your shadow aspect?

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   ceciliabeltranposted 13 years ago

   We all have a Shadow. How do you recognize your shadow aspect and what do you do when you do?

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      leebertteaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I try to stay out of the light. I don't like being followed.

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         agvulpesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Ah but if the light was behind you, you would be following your shadow !

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   Rochelle Frankposted 13 years ago

   Use sunscreen.

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3. 78

   John C. Evenstarposted 13 years ago

   First an individual must be aware that in fact s/he has a "Shadow Aspect". When s/he realizes this, then and only then, will that individual be able to gain control of it. I would venture to state that; no one individual has that much self awareness as to completely rid themselves of the "Aspect".
        
   I am sure that some would argue that people like Gandhi, or a Pope or other similar individuals may hold complete awareness, but my opinion is; we all fall to desires. That's my opinion anyway. and I have fallen many times in my past.

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4. 78

   John C. Evenstarposted 13 years ago

   Also to address the other part; how do you overcome it? Well an individual that realizes his/her shortcomings, or that it is possible that s/he has them, I would argue that, this individual can overcome a lot of the shadow by always asking him or herself; how will this decision affect all of those around me.
   
   I use to drink heavily, and I never asked myself questions of that nature. I never knew I needed to. Anyway, the point I am trying to make here is simple, if you are aware you have shortcomings, and you ask yourself that one question, and you acknowledge the answer to it, it then makes it very hard consciously to do another harm.

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5. 62

   Lisa HWposted 13 years ago

   I'm apparently one of those people who isn't aware I have a shadow aspect.    I don't know....     I sure don't see or sense one.  Is the Aspect an evil type of thing (in which case, I really don't have that), or a weakness type of thing (in which case, I have some of those)?

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      John C. Evenstarposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Lisa,
      A shadow is essentially those things that lie just beneath awareness that sometimes show in our behaviors that have negative effects on ourselves, things we do and others around us. Our unconscious desires for power, sex, status etc.
      
      Freud studied this aspect of psychology and is what made him renowned.He studied the "Id" the "Ego" and the "Super Ego".
      Id refers to the part of the subconscious that drives our pleasure.
      Ego refers to our subconscious that drives for power
      Super Ego refers to our subconscious that tries to keep us in check; it is our rational part of the mind.

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         Aficionadaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Another great way to look at various aspects of a person's personality (known and unknown) is the Johari Window.  Check out this Hub: http://hubpages.com/hub/Johari-Window
         and some of the ones written by Tina V and kimh039.  It's a very good way to understand people and their interactions with others.

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            mythbusterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Awesome article you've directed us to. Thanks!

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      John C. Evenstarposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      And yes Lisa, a shadow could very well be classified as an Archetype for evil. But people can mean good, but our actions sometimes represent our unconscious before our conscious.

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   earnestshubposted 13 years ago

   Constant vigilance is the only way I know to see the shadow aspect of self.

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      NathanSyckelposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Very good. Constant Vigilance are the perfect words. I like the idea which I learned from Napoleon Hill. The only thing in life that we have absolute control over is our thoughts. So if our thoughts turn to the negative we have to learn to control them and only let the positive breakthrough.

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   Jeff Berndtposted 13 years ago

   Before I can intelligently answer that question, I'm going to need a working knowledge of what a "shadow aspect" is.
   
   I know what a shadow is. I see mine all the time. I even make wee puppets with it sometimes. But I'm not sure what you mean by my "shadow aspect."

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      Beelzedadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That's Jungian speech for the 'irrational.' 

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8. 64

   ceciliabeltranposted 13 years ago

   Wow, this is an old topic i uncovered.
   
   The Shadow Aspect is the rejected self.
   
   For example. You were shamed for looking at naked women as a child. So, you grow up hating porn and denigrating all porn lovers. It is the shadow of the self that loved naked women and has learned to see all images of naked women as porn.
   
   The Shadow Aspect is that part of our psyche we refuse to look at, the aspect we demonize.

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   kalixaoposted 13 years ago

   I recently helped a young neurotic writer in a project wherein he rewrote his history by dramatizing his life. He identified a Shadowy Self and interacted with it. He discovered that the Shadowy Self was really the guardian of his soul. The Shadowy Self delivered the essence of the soul back to the writer and "died", passing the torch to the core self once he felt the core self would not neglect the soul again. The Shadowy Self had a great self-destructive need to connect itself to the outside world and to women through sex. In passing the torch and relinquishing his role as soul warden, the core self was enabled and empowered to feel as one with all aspects of himself, with his partner, and with the universe.It was a truly transformative and miraculous experience. The Shadowy Self says to the core self, "In dying, I transfer to you all that I am and more, for now I am a part of you forever. Nothing ever really dies, especially not passion. Remember me."

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