Embracing Our Shadow Values

During the Christmas break, I explored my shadow values, which was illuminating to say the least. I'm already more motivated to achieve this year's goals because I've seen them in a new light.

There’s joy in recognising our strengths and it's pretty easy to do. Exploring our shadow side, however, is rather uncomfortable because it’s wrapped up with shame and guilt. Plenty of us would say that we're very self aware, but to ignore our shadow self is to know only half of the whole.

Most of us know what our ‘golden’ values are, by simply recognising what’s important to us. For example, some of my values include knowledge, freedom and leadership.?But if I’m honest with myself about what those values give me (without attaching meaning to it), they’d translate to:

??Golden Value = Knowledge / Shadow Value = Feeling superior

??Golden Value = Freedom / Shadow Value = Getting my own way

??Golden Value = Leadership / Shadow Value = Being admired

The magical opportunity here, is that leaning on both golden and shadow values allows us to increase our motivation to achieve what we want in life. So if there’s something you’ve been putting off for a while, look at it again with this new lens and see how it shifts.?

For example, writing a new leadership program allows me to share knowledge, offer people freedom and to lead others. It also allows me to feel superior, get my own way and be admired in the process, which is the other half of what drives me to do it. And that’s OK!...

What are your shadow values?

“How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also If I am to be whole.”

―?C.G. Jung,?Modern Man in Search of a Soul