On Shadows
/Did you know that you can actually use your physical body and your imagination to reprogram the way that you think and feel on a neurological level? Or that you have been programmed as child to think and feel (or not feel) a certain way?
Media, culture, family, and friends all influence your programming. This translates to the inner critic inside your head telling you that you aren’t worthy enough or that you aren’t capable of success. These are your shadows && the truth is, no one escapes childhood without them.
We all have a dark side and a light side. Some people’s shadows are darker than others, but the truth is, we need both darkness and light. The problem is we are constantly suppressing the way that we think and feel because we have been conditioned to do so for most of our lives. Our shadows reflect our deepest wounds. && It is our shadows hold the most light.
Break free of the ties that other people hold on you. Imagine what it would be like to think and feel for yourself. To let go of the emotional and energetic connections you hold on to. Whether it be relationships, past hurts, trauma…the list goes on and on. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy to reveal your shadows after all these years BUT with the tool below you can begin to scratch the surface.
Using Robert Augustus Masters’ PH.D Worksheet provided below begin by filling in the blanks. Answer the questions with simple words or phrases and spontaneously. If your thinking about a question too much then move on to the next question and come back to it. Your first instinct is usually right so listen to your inner coach and trust where you feel guided. Initially this exercise should take you no longer than 3-4 minutes.
When finished, think about the questions you had the most difficulty answering. These are where your darkest shadows lie. Leave the questions and come back to them a day or two later. Dig deeper in to the words and phrases that you chose initially. What did you really mean by them? Go deeper and deeper. The more open and willing you are to explore your shadows the more apt you are to bring them to light. Happy Hunting.
The thing about me that I feel most aversion to is ________
The emotion that I have most difficulty expressing in a relationship is _________
The emotion I have the most difficulty expressing is _______
In dreams where I am trying to escape or being pursued I am running from _______
I have the most difficult time admitting that I am ___________
What I don’t want others to know about me is _________
What I have most difficulty admitting to in a relationship is ____________