Day 6: Meeting the Shadow

This post is part of my 30-day journey reflecting on Carl Jung’s teachings and how they unfold in my own life. Each day, I explore a different aspect of the psyche, inner growth, and self-discovery through personal reflection.

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There are parts of me I don’t always like to admit — sides I usually hide from others, and sometimes even from myself. Jung called this the Shadow.

For me, the Shadow shows up in little ways — when I get jealous, when I judge someone too quickly, or when I pretend I’m fine even when I’m hurt. These are moments I usually try to brush aside, but lately I’m learning that they have something to tell me.

The Shadow isn’t about being “bad.” It’s about being human. It’s the part of me that holds the feelings I’ve pushed away because I was afraid of being misunderstood, or of not being “good enough.”

Sometimes I catch myself reacting strongly to something small — and later I realize, maybe it touched a part of me I haven’t healed yet. I used to feel guilty about that. Now I try to see it as a chance to understand myself better.

Facing my Shadow doesn’t mean fighting it. It means being honest about what’s really inside me — the messy, complicated, imperfect parts. Because the more I accept them, the lighter I feel.

Today, I choose to be gentle with the sides of me I’ve been hiding.
They may not be pretty, but they’re still mine — and they, too, deserve love.