Everyone has a shadow (from Carl Jung’s theories of the human nature).

The shadow is what you are but do not show to the world. The shadow is part of your real self, nestled within yourself. You may call it the subconscious. It makes those decisions that you cannot consciously make. It whispers its desires to you in the still of the early morning.

Your virtues and correctness is what the world teaches you. Follow the rules and you will be safe. But the shadow is really you – born, as it is of the basic instincts of your inner self. So the shadow is more you than your conscious self is.

Another interesting interpretation of the shadow is “weakness”. The inner forces that make you drag your feet on that job you know has to be done. The writer’s block, the burnout is a manifestation of the shadow self. But the shadow is not weak at all. Like a petulant child, it does induce weakness when you neglect it consistently and for long enough. Just to get even with you. The weakness theory doesn’t hold with me. In fact, you have to know your shadow and merge your real self with it to be completely successful.

My shadow is procrastination, daydreaming. My shadow is flexibility, too much of it. Wanting harmony, peace at all costs, perhaps.

What is your shadow?