Submitted by Sartor on
Carl Jung warns us against the dangers of the shadow (the unknown dark side of our personality). We must acknowledge our shadow and enter into long and difficult negotiations with it through shadow work. Only then can we become conscious of the collective shadow (the unknown dark side of mankind) and not fall prey to it. Exploring our shadow allows us to rescue the good qualities that lie dormant within us, which improves our lives and the lives of those around us. We can then face the collective shadow and take responsibility to address the denial of important issues and a lack of individual and collective initiative.
Telling the truth is the most desirable way to deal with a difficult past, rather than dismissing the atrocities and having the shadow grow blacker until it can no grow no more, and thus history repeats itself.