We all have parts of ourselves we aren’t exactly crazy about. Yet true lasting happiness cannot be maintained until we learn to embrace those aspects we wish to discard.

Referred to as “the Shadow”, our unconscious consists of the parts of self that we have, at some point, tried to disown. We’ve built walls, developed defenses, practiced denial, and even built false-selves to camouflage these dark-parts. But try as we might, these shadow aspects show up anyway.

When we face, and embrace these parts, we find they weren’t monsters after all. Misunderstood perhaps –  but not monsters. Once conscious, we experience greater freedom, authenticity, and self-understanding. When we understand ourselves, others will, too.