Today I finished the book of “Owning Your Own Shadow” by Robert A. Johnson. He is known Jungian Analyst and have books related to same concept as Carl G. Yung.

You could see how books have changed since half a century ago till now, the type of writing a book, mentioning references and choice of words have changed a lot. I think nowadays books have a better structure and reference-based content. The old ones were like personal (mostly Authors’ Opinion on a subject).

Also, nowadays books around the same topic (psychology and self-help) hardly focus on a certain religion or try not to bring the sensitive topics like religion much, yet in this book you could see the author’s point of view as a devoted Christian.

But the content as I said tried to make some points and the main topic was what Dr. Carl G. Yung called “Shadow”.

In the past few years, I tried to learn more about shadow and the more I read and learn the clearer it becomes. Specially after reading the book of Debbie Ford on the same topic with the title of “The Dark Side of the Light Chasers”. But here the Author, Dr. Johnsons gave the basic information which I believe made the path clearer for the following authors or readers on the topic.

One main points that I found interesting is the acceptance of life paradoxes instead of the opposites. We all know the world is filled with dualities, things like dark vs light, day vs. night, good vs. bad, cold, vs hot, masculinity vs. femineity, up vs. down, etc. the author says what happens in cultural world is that people are tend to realize these dualities and instead of accepting them as a whole – in which one cannot live without the other – they tend to choose one side and stick to it. He considers this separation of these opposing forces as Opposites. Instead, he suggests we have to accept that they are one because each couldn’t exist without the other half. So better to realize that between both ends are the spectacular colorful range filled with both sides of this duality that makes a life, better.

Agreeing with him, I realize most people including me, used to separate the duals because the burden of accepting both sides existing next to each other and living both is so heavy that we chose the easier path mostly defined by culture or religion. For example, good vs. bad, instead of accepting both can and must exist side by side, we chose one (usually the good) that is defined buy a culture or religion (which maybe different if the culture or religion changes) and we focus our lives just by living that one single outed value or choice. However, if we come to the point where we can accept existence of both sides with open mind and realize one couldn’t be separated or opposed completely by the other half then we become closer to wholeness. That way we can see things differently and judge people and see life differently.

Realizing this point made me feel better and I saw how understanding this point made me feel the stress and the pressure of life gone just by thinking about the concept as a whole. When you see dark and light as a whole, instead of tiring yourself by running away from one towards the other, you just simply sit and accept both withing you. That way you get the control over both and realize what a release it is to understand and accept differences in life, society and the world. It actually makes them more colorful and beautiful.

And that is the concept of accepting one’s shadow. Cause without accepting the shadow, the light wouldn’t be fully understood. Though dark, a shadow is forceful and it is only by accepting and understanding it, we can become whole.

“To transform opposition into paradox is to allow both sides of an issue, both pairs of the opposites, to exist in equal dignity and worth. Example: I should be working at my project this morning but I don’t feel like it and want to do something else. These two opposing wishes will cancel each other if I let them remain in opposition. But if I sit with them and awhile, they will fashion a solution that is agreeable to both; or even better, a situation that is superior to either one. …… If I can stay with my conflicting impulses long enough, the two opposing forces will teach each other, something and produce an insight that serves them both.” – Dr. Robert A. Johnson, Script from “Owning Your Own Shadow”