The Most Effective Way to Cultivate Courage

There are scary things happening in the world. Our biggest advantage is our resiliency and our awareness of how to use our energy to create the life we want to live in. Courage is one of the 9 keys to building resiliency.

Courage is not the ability to go through life without fear. It's not getting rid of it. It's something we do need for for our survival on this earthly plane.

But the goal is learning to move through life without letting fear control us, without letting it hold us back from doing what we really want or being who we want to be. To do this requires a special kind of work - work that will ask you to stop running from the parts of yourself that feel scary and uncomfortable and consciously choose to allow them to be your teachers instead. Allow me to introduce - your shadow.

What is Your Shadow?

In the simplest terms, your shadow is the darker aspect of your personality. The parts you try to brush aside and hide from the rest of the world. The parts you reject and do not want to identify with. Everyone who is experience life as a human on Earth has a shadow.

Just as there is light, there is also darkness. It's a law of the Universe. Just because we don't see another person's shadow does not mean it's not there. The most courageous person may have a shadow that's cowardly, the kind, caring person may have an angry side hiding behind all that softness. Even the most benevolent, the most respected personalities and leaders have a shadow.

We witness the shadow when we notice another person's views, words and actions are in conflict.

Our shadow is part of us. It's part of the human experience. It's buried in our hearts and our minds and is what makes us, well... human. Shadows lurk deep in our psyche, following us around and coming out to frighten us when it gets triggered. It shows up in different ways and will always find a way to surface. And the longer we ignore it, the more it begins to disrupt our lives and our ability to move forward. Shadows have a way of revealing themselves at the worst moments (usually when we're under stress or pressure), and the longer we ignore them, the louder they get. They can be a bit of a drama queen.

Identifying Your Shadow Self

Bringing awareness to your shadow is the first step to integrating it. Shadows can manifest in many different ways - such as temptations, obsessions, addictions, co-dependency or other forms of indulgence. They also may show themselves to us as projections. Are there specific traits that you unjustifiably dislike in certain people? It's possible you don't like what you see because it's mirroring parts of you that you're working so hard to ignore, or may not even be aware of.

Do you ever find yourself judging people harshly? Or thinking, "I would never...", or get angry at little things? Your shadow often shows up in the face of other people. You may even unknowingly attract them into your life. Your shadow is sneaky that way. It quite literally wants to be seen.

An Introduction to Shadow Work

The only way you can begin to heal your shadow is by confronting it, becoming aware and working through the conflicts it creates, learning how to honor all parts of yourself with compassion and understanding in the process. If you do not consciously face your demons, they will follow you in unconscious ways. Working with your shadow calls you to go deeper into yourself, and as we you work with the bad, you'll also find the good, see the light and learn how to face your dark edges with more and more courage.

I urge you not to hate your shadow or resent it. The dark offers you the chance to enrich and nourish your spirit, your soul and your life. It's here to help you align with your highest purpose. It wants to show you the power of your light. All you have to do is be willing to look at it and accept it for what it is.

The Snake and the Rope

In darkness, a coiled rope may have the appearance of a snake. When you encounter this coiled rope, you may react as if you have seen a snake - by fearfully jumping out of the way, heart racing. And because your perception creates your reality, in that moment, that rope IS a snake.

But if you shine a light on that coiled rope, all of your fight-or-flight symptoms disappear as the truth is revealed. Nothing more needs to be done. The appearance of light removes darkness and magically, your fear dissipates.

Once you see the truth, you do not forget. After you realize that the coiled rope is not a snake, you don't then forget and react in fear again after you turn the light off. You remember, and if you consciously hold onto that awareness, the experience changes you and gives you insight that you can take as you move forward on your journey.

Standing In Our Light

Think about the sun. As its light shines down on Earth, clouds block the light and cast shadows. Depending on the density of the clouds, the light from the sun is limited. The same happens with your light and your shadow. Your most authentic expression is the sun, and your shadow is the clouds.

It's time to look at your clouds and allow them to clear. This may feel like a sacrifice - because they've grown familiar and comfortable, but they are blocking you from living in your fullest expression. You are being called to evolve and become responsible for who you are now and where you're going, instead of continuing to hang onto the disempowering blame given to people and circumstances outside of your control.

Together, we are being called to evolve from victim consciousness and transform into powerful, compassionate creators, owning our ability to create the world we all deserve to live in. Controlling our own minds, our energy and consciously rewiring our limiting programing are the keys to becoming who we came here to be.

This self actualization begins with reclaiming the truth of who you really are - all of your shadow, and all of your light.

And no matter where you are on your journey of awakening, know you are loved every step of the way.

Follow Marissa on LinkedIn and Instagram for more content to support the evolution of your consciousness. Explore ways to work with Marissa here.