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In childhood, we were afraid of the dark. But once the light came back on, we could see that what scared us was part of our environment. Unfortunately, we have learned to be afraid of the dark, because it symbolizes the unknown and the negative. Yet it is our ally...

- Understanding the darkness -

The fear of our emotional complexity grows and follows us like a shadow, since our early childhood. We make a lot of effort to repress it and hide it from others (because it makes us feel ashamed, even afraid), but it plays an important role in our choices of behaviours, life and surroundings (whether we are aware of it or not).

In response to our past experiences, we have decided to deny and/or hide our dark side, without exploring it. This denial/secrecy prevents us from truly expressing who we are and what we want (or need). However, we must understand that our dark side is born from our origin, our strengths and our qualities.

- Our whole identity -

In many ways, denying our dark side can be seen as a form of betrayal. By hiding this part of ourselves, we are admitting that we don't deserve to be seen as we really are.

This hiding allows others to manipulate us, to make us look like impostors or to create unfounded rumours that we don't fight against for fear of being rejected. Becoming aware of our dark side is to bring our wounds to light and give us a chance to heal them, to grow and to recognize the paths that lead us there (so that we can bypass them in the future).

- Deepening our spirituality -

All spiritual work (meditation, therapy, etc.) involves recognizing, exposing and understanding our dark side. No matter how much we push it away, as soon as we turn to our inner self, it will be the first to respond. The more we try to silence it, the more vigorous it will be to be recognized.

Focusing only on the search for happiness, positivity, light and well-being is not enough : We must know the darkness in order to better perceive and understand the light. If we persist on the path of this partial (even superficial) image of ourselves, we create a split. This cage of haunting isolation risks leading us to destructive behaviours for ourselves as well as for those around us, and it is not our dark side that will be the cause, but rather our obsession with not wanting to recognize and tame it.

In order not to feel intimidated or scared by our dark side, let us see it as a diamond in the rough, full of strength, creativity and beauty. Because we are used to our masks and politeness, undertaking this journey can be confusing: we might realize that we don't know who we really are anymore. But this path is necessary to open ourselves to new possibilities and perceptions. It will even allow us to face life with more ardour and sincerity.

- What is hidden in anger -

Anger is an aspect of our darker side, which we must learn to listen to and tame (not subdue or silence). It is a double-edged sword : It can alert us to lurking threats (physical or moral), but it can also harm us.

It is essential to recognize it, to accept it and to decipher it in order to differentiate if it is justified or blind. It appears when we feel wronged, mistreated, provoked, pushed beyond our tolerance threshold. And even if the reasons that triggered it are clear, it is not always easy to distinguish the objective or to appease it.

Conclusions

The path to the light passes through the darkness : We all have a dark side, we don't especially perceive it, but we know it is there. We have learned to associate darkness with the unknown and the scary. As a result, we have mistakenly concluded that we must silence our dark thoughts and emotions. Turning the light on our dark side is harder than flipping a switch, so we try to avoid it. But it won't go away, so let's strengthen our essence and accept our darkness.

What do you think?