The “dark side” lives within each of us – the tragedies, the negativity, the difficult things we’ve lived through, felt and thought. Debbie Ford, in her fascinating DVD, “The Shadow Self” chronicles numerous successful and motivational people who have recognized and risen above their shadow selves. The viewer is encouraged to acknowledge the deepest, darkest part of his/her psyche and bring it to the surface. Only then can healing take place.
I do believe that we need to recognize and confront our own darkness. As physical beings, we all have a part of us that has either experienced an abusive past, a tragedy, an addiction, a compulsion, a destructive anger or something so difficult that has at times taken control of us and our thoughts, keeping us bound up in its chains.
If not released, these shadowy thoughts and emotions can become so toxic to us (down to the very cells of our bodies) and result in physical imbalance and disease.
Only inner work (whether on our own, with a healing professional, or a coach) can bring these shadows to the surface, letting us understand them and acknowledge the lessons that they have taught us, however painful. “What doesn’t kill us maker us stronger” holds true for many of us. Though at times we’re not sure we will ever survive the darkness.
Our healing is not complete without forgiveness. Forgiving those who have wronged us is a powerful way to let go of hurt and pain. Forgiving ourselves is absolutely necessary. So the goal is to reveal our shadow selves, integrate them into our personality, and let the light of forgiveness, compassion and understanding dissolve that which previously existed in the darkness.
