How Hiding Parts of Yourself, Stunts Your Growth.

Shadow Work has boomed with popularity within the last few years as inner development has taken a forefront in the mainstream psyche.

Normally, this topic strikes the chord of deep rooted trauma that people suddenly want to acknowledge and heal. It also appeals to those who want to live more transparent lives that are rooted in clarity and purpose. Because in order to do so, one must acknowledge all of the ways in which one hides from oneself and hides the self from their community.

If you are familiar with shadow work, you know these journeys all too well.

The popularity of shadow work has given way to the awareness of plant ceremonies, workshops for personal development, various healing modalities, therapies and mindsets; or was it the other way around? Does the egg come first or was it the chicken and at this point, does it even matter?

Anyhow, I am so grateful that people now have numerous outlets in which they can explore their shadows and heal.

But, what about the less invasive shadows in our lives? 

What about the subtle shadows that we hide on a day to day basis and yet, they do not hold enough weight to be processed in an Ayahuasca Ceremony? 

These can be things in our lives that may not seem harmful to hide and yet we do hide them because we feel embarrassed by them. They can be things like belly fat, a lisp, a particular distaste for body hair, a physical deformity, an occurring illness, a subtle addiction like smoking. 

Although these things may not be a catastrophic occurrence of our past that needs deep healing, they can still be bothersome, causing a part of us to remain in hiding from the world, however small it may be. 

What is so wrong with having a little shadow if I am not hurting anyone, you might wonder.

Well the truth is that you are, love.

You see, in the core fabric of each individual’s life, lives the knowing that we have come to this human incarnation to expand into the best version of ourselves that is most aligned with the laws of nature, which is love.

When we deny ourselves or hide in any way, we are energetically declaring that there are parts of us that are not worthy of love and therefore, we must hide them. 

Can you imagine what that does to our sovereignty overtime?

How could we know true confidence if we cannot accept every part of ourselves fully?

As we age more each year and of course, like fine wine..

We can fight it or we can allow the unfamiliar and often uncomfortable roadblocks of our character to be accepted as milestones to reach and learn from instead of seeing them as hindrances or detours.

Imagine how much more depth, vitality and love everyone would have?

Instead, people walk around jaded and bitter as if life was out to get them when in fact, life is out to expand us all.

Comfort zones are nice at first but they are quickly boring and soul numbing.  

When it comes to your shadows, although you may not feel that you are hurting anyone by hiding,

You Are Sabotaging More of Your Happiness.

Who does that serve? It is a selfish mental program. 

Hiding parts of ourselves requires that we invest energy and time in hiding and that is energy and time that can be utilized for good things, projects, careers, relationships, volunteering, etc. 

You are meant to expand into the most authentic, liberated and grounded version of yourself. 

It is wise to allow time, life and its lessons to naturally guide your maturity forward. 

If you want to experience a life of consistent joy, connection, intimacy, growth and health, you must be brave and embark on the path of shadow work- not denying or hiding parts of yourself  but instead leaning in to discover why those parts are there and learning to do the necessary inner and outer work to change all that you are not proud of or happy with- the rest must be embraced.

Shadow work is not so that we all become a cookie-cutter version of each other but instead so that we can grow from painful experiences, allowing a new and more mature version of ourselves to be experienced by us and by others, as a sovereign concept of what an embodied loving soul can be while incarnated into the fabric of this human experience.

So love, what are those subtle shadows that you are still hiding?

Are you ready to shine just a little more light on those parts?

Would it be okay to start sitting, dancing, talking to and observing more of those parts within you?

Remember that shadow work is not about shaming or demonizing any part of ourselves in any way but rather it is about learning who we fully are and why we are these ways.

Meet yourself fully, darling.

Understand yourself, mature yourself and embrace yourself. 

You are ready and you are safe to be the entirety of your soul while you have this wonderful human body!

Happy Inner-Hunting!

Much love,

xo

DR