To make radical changes in the way we feel about ourselves, we must reclaim our projections, those shadowy images of our dark side we see reflected on others’ faces. However, it isn’t easy to restore awareness of disowned parts of the self and admit they are ours.
One lifetime is too short to complete the task. At best, whatever progress we make will be uneven. We’ll be required to give up the illusion that our waking rational consciousness is in control and challenged to reconcile our opposites by experiencing multiple realities. We will have to suffer the discomfort of recognizing that all we’ve banished as not-self is as real a part of us as all the rest.
This does not mean we must decide we’re the opposite of who we’ve always thought we are. Instead, we must accept that all of the contradictory parts of our self are worth something by learning to value every bit of who we are.
We are all filled with contradictions.