Light Reveals the Shadow: A Practical Regimen to Mental and Emotional Fitness

Embracing and Navigating the Shadow Self-The Wealth Matters Weekend Issue

Introduction

Let’s face it, no matter how emotionally intelligent and mentally tough you are, (and my readers are some of the best), we are all navigating a lot more these days. Our ability to enjoy life and the things we work hard for is highly correlated to our ability to be mentally present. With all of the uncertainty around us these days that is no small task.

Mental and emotional fitness isn’t just about maintaining a positive mindset or achieving calm. It’s about recognizing, understanding, and integrating all parts of ourselves, including the parts we try to avoid—the shadow self. Coined by Carl Jung, the "shadow self" refers to the unconscious aspects of our personality that we suppress or deny. These traits, while often considered negative, can be both a strength and a liability. As my co-author and father Chet always told us repeatedly growing up we must pay close attention to our strengths, because they could also at times be our greatest liabilities. By acknowledging the s…