Read time: 6 minutes
Embracing Shadows: How To Explore Your Hidden Side
đź’ˇ Goal: Confront the darker parts of your mind to express your full creative potential.
Why It Matters
You have a dark side. And most likely you tend to ignore it. But like your breath, it's there when you are ready to pay attention.
The more you are able to see and understand of your shadow side, the more you will be able to learn to direct its energy in a way that makes sense for how you want to show up in the world. The more you will be able to create without limits.
The Resistor
A short list of what can hold you back 🤔
- Fear and Discomfort
- Social Conditioning
- Lack of Self-Awareness
- Perfectionism and Self-Judgment
- Trauma and Unresolved Emotional Pain
- Lack of Support or Guidance
- Cultural or Religious Beliefs
Pay attention to what holds you back and learn to navigate the dark.
It can take time. It can take help. But it can be done.
A Signal Path
The Poet of the Human Condition
Leonard Cohen was a poet, novelist, and songwriter with a profound understanding of the human condition. He often explored the darker parts of life in his works.
Throughout his career, Cohen confronted the complexities of love, loss, suffering, and redemption in many forms. His lyrics have a raw honesty that resonates across generations. He beautifully expressed the pain and despair that many experience but few write about.
In his early years, Cohen experienced depression and a sense of alienation, which he channeled into his writing. His novel "Beautiful Losers" and his poetry collection "Flowers for Hitler" were both marked by dark themes and a willingness to confront the uncomfortable truths about human nature.
As he moved into music, Cohen's songs continued to reflect his understanding of the shadow side.
"Suzanne," speaks of a woman who shows him the beauty in the cracks of life.
"Famous Blue Raincoat" explores the pain of love lost. I love the lines, “Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyes, I thought it was there for good so I never tried”
Perhaps his most iconic song, "Hallelujah," is a testament to Cohen's ability to find grace and redemption in suffering. The lyrics speak to biblical stories and personal struggles and acknowledge the brokenness of the world while still affirming the power of faith and resilience.
By embracing the shadows, Leonard Cohen created art that was deeply personal and universally relevant. He demonstrated how confronting your darkest emotions can lead to finding strength, beauty, and truth.
His legacy is an inspiration that even in the depths of darkness, there is always a glimmer of light to be found.
Three Cats
Learn more about the three cats ​here​.
âś… Idea: Be generous with your pain
🔺 Process: Lift when you are struggling
🔹 Result: The darkness is a stepping stone to a new form
― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Switch to Action
“Darkness gives shape to the light as light shapes the darkness. Death gives shape to life as life shapes death.” ― Octavia E. Butler
Shadow Journaling
Set aside 15 minutes for shadow journaling in a private space.
Before writing, breathe in deeply and set an intention to be honest with yourself. You can shred the paper later if you need to.
Explore these prompts:
- What aspects of myself do I suppress and why?
- How do these hidden parts affect my life? What would change if I integrated them?
- What fears or experiences contribute to my reluctance to embrace my shadow?
- Envision a future of full self-acceptance. What steps can I take towards that?
Write freely, allowing discomfort. Reflect on insights and offer self-compassion.
Commit to expressing your shadow side at least once in a new work
Go Deeper
​Read Beautiful Losers by Leonard Cohen
Looking for other ways to learn to confront your shadow side? Try the Resiliter Creative Cards