There is this new concept I have been learning about called Shadow Work. I don’t know if you have heard about it, but I’ll explain what I have understood. The first thing you need to know is that the way our brain works is divided into two: the conscious and the unconscious. The conscious aspect of our brain is our reality; it is what we see, what we know, and what surrounds us, and in a way, it is limited. However, the unconscious side is what we don’t know, what is unseen, and what is yet to be discovered that can be something that is already part of us that we decided to forget.
Now, this side of our unconscious brain is also what we can call our other half. It is the part of ourselves that we have decided to put aside or what we left behind. These things we left behind were probably because, somewhere along the way, we were told that the way we are is unacceptable. Regardless of whether it is unacceptable, we started to believe that we could not be a certain way because it wasn't normal.
And I remember this conversation I had with my mom a few years ago about what we consider normal. What is normal? Why do we normalize things? What justifies what is and isn’t normal? How is it possible that a simple word that is supposed to mean ordinary or typical has a different meaning for everybody? And I think we create our definition of normal based on what surrounds us. We can’t just have one meaning; if we did, we would all be the same and want to live an ordinary life. Because by the end of the day, we wish our lives would be a bit simpler, less complicated, and more normal. But you know what? Fuk that. The moment we can realize that our beliefs are not the same as our reality is the moment we can create the life we want. We can choose what is normal and what isn’t. But remember that what is normal for you may not be what is normal for me. But that is completely fine; you just have to respect the opinions and beliefs of others and not judge.
Now, this article was not precisely meant to explain in depth what shadow work is, but I did want to share that thought, and you can do with it as you please. However, I did want to add that we have so much that we don’t know about ourselves because we have decided to hide it. But now it is up to you to go on that journey to discover your other half, this part of you that is ready to be seen, accepted and embraced with open arms. Because this part of you, even if it is unknown now, it is who you are, and it is time to let yourself be you.
Z.
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