Carl Jung Quote on How Confronting Darkness Can Show You To Your Light

“To confront a person with his own shadow is to show him his own light.”

Carl Jung, Sunbeams (Page 3)

Beyond the Quote (Day 382)

Like most, I can still vividly recall moments when I was caused a great deal of irritation, frustration, anger, and pain. Times when people didn’t follow through with their word, or when they would treat others unfairly, or when they did things that were irrational, nonsensical, or just plain malicious. And sometimes, those moments would get the best of me and cause an influx of negative, overpowering, blinding emotions. But what I didn’t realize then, that I can see more clearly now, is that the only reason I was able to see those shadows was because of my own light.

For, in order for a shadow to be cast, light must be present. If there is no light, there would be no shadow—only darkness. The shadows that I saw in others (and the one appearing in front of myself) was being cast by a light that was illuminating from within. And as it turns out, the confrontation that I was being forced to have with my own shadow (the manifested feelings of anger, frustration, irritation, upset, etc.) was the very guiding mechanism that was pointing me to that light.

The shadow of not following through with your word was being cast by the light of wanting people to always honor their word. The shadow of not treating people fairly was being cast by the light of always wanting people to value equality. The shadow of acting irrational or nonsensical or malicious was being cast by the light of always desiring clarity, order, and justice.

Everything that frustrates, irritates, angers, and upsets you about others can lead you to a better understanding of yourself—it can lead you to your light. For, it is consequentially the light within that’s causing you to see the shadows all around you—just as a lantern would as it was carried in the darkness. Remember that the shadows are nothing to run from—they are to be learned from. They are the very mechanism with which you can understand, nurture, and grow your light. For, self-actualization doesn’t happen by imagining figures of light, but by confronting shadows of darkness.

In a Tweet:

The thing about irritation, frustration, anger, and pain—is that it points you to your light.

For, what you see as being worth getting emotional and hurt over is a shadow that is being cast by, well, an inner light. A light of respect, care, justice, equality.

Honor that light.

— Matthew Hogan (@MattHogan123) January 17, 2021

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