Are You Afraid of Your Own Shadow?
If I told you that I know people who are truly terrified of their own shadows, you might find it hard to believe. While I don’t know anyone who is literally afraid of their physical shadow, many of my clients and, in fact, a vast majority of people you encounter are scared of projections—mental constructs rather than tangible entities.
Understanding the Nature of Shadows
Imagine a shadow cast on a wall. We can all agree that this shadow isn’t real; it’s merely a projection of an object blocking light. It’s absurd to argue with a shadow, to speak to it, or to blame it for something in your life. Yet, that’s what many of us do when we react to life’s challenges as if they were real threats. The shadow is harmless; it is simply an illusion.
You Are the Projector
Everything you observe in the world around you is a reflection of your inner self. This 3D world exists only as a projection of what we create internally. You are the one projecting your reality. When you perceive external circumstances as overwhelmingly negative or uncontrollable, remember that you are essentially reacting to your own creation—your own shadow.
Reality Is a Mirror
Everything outside of you originates from within. The phrase “as within, so without” encapsulates this idea. Blaming external factors for your discomfort is like blaming a shadow on the wall—it just doesn’t make sense. I spent much of my life pointing fingers at others or at circumstances, failing to recognize that I was merely seeing a reflection of my own thoughts and beliefs. Rather than blaming the reflection in the mirror, we must turn inward and make changes within ourselves to alter that reflection.
An Awakened Perspective
Before my awakening, I saw life as a series of challenges thrown at me by an adversarial universe. I felt like a victim, as though life were working against me. While I may not fully understand the intricate metaphysics of creation, I’ve come to realize that I am the creator of my reality. The first step is letting go of the false belief that anything exists outside of us that’s beyond our control. As long as you see yourself as a victim, you will remain captive to the shadows you perceive.
Recognizing Yourself as the Creator
Once you understand that the shadows cannot frighten you because they are projections of yourself, you’ll realize they are completely harmless. The fear comes not from the shadows themselves, but from your perception and interpretation of them. It may seem ridiculous to react to your own projections, yet this is precisely what most of us do regularly. The truth is that your subconscious patterns and fears are actively crafting the reality you experience.
Don’t Settle for a Life of Reactivity
You don’t have to accept a life of mere reaction. Once you recognize that you are the one projecting these shadows, it becomes easier to alter how they manifest in your life. While this life may not be entirely real, your experience of it is undeniably real. Consider the person who believes the shadows are terrifying demons. That fear is genuine for them, even though the shadows are ultimately illusory.
Your Definitions Shape Your Reality
What you define in your life ultimately defines you. If you label the shadows as monstrous entities that haunt and curse you, that becomes your lived reality. In contrast, someone who understands their role as the creator of their shadows can navigate life with joy and resilience, untouched by the illusions around them. Because they don’t give attention to the shadows, they respond based on the definitions they choose to embrace.
My Journey of Understanding
Initially, when I was introduced to these concepts, I resisted. I dismissed the idea that shadows were mere projections, insisting that my struggles represented a valid reality. To me, the world was a difficult place, and those who espoused spiritual ideas were just living in a fantasy. My understanding of life was rigid, and I believed I had a grasp on what was real.
Embracing Truth
I’ve been fortunate to learn from an outstanding teacher, RJ Spina, who has opened my eyes to profound truths that actually work in practical settings. When I experienced the spiritual realm and connected with God directly, belief transformed into knowing; I no longer had to rely on faith but could rest on direct experience. Before this awakening, I had countless beliefs based on uncertainty.
Recognizing Patterns in Life
The toxic behaviors I repeated stemmed from a victim mentality, creating patterns that consistently appeared in my life. I spoke passionately about the reality of my shadows, yet RJ helped me see that I was the one responsible for creating those patterns. As I began to awaken to this truth, my perspective shifted—when I moved, the shadows followed.
The Journey of Conscious Creation
I can’t fully delve into this profound concept in a single blog post. However, I explore it in greater detail in my online course, “Why Am I Here?” After spending many years reacting to the circumstances of life as if they were shadows on a wall, I finally awakened in my early 50’s. My eyes became open to the lies I had accepted because I did not yet know the truth.
The Hard Truth
I vividly remember how defensive I was when I encountered these ideas for the first time. It challenged everything I believed about my reality, forcing me to confront uncomfortable truths. The journey has been transformative, leading to a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me. When we face the truth, we can finally begin to reshape our lives and step into our power as conscious creators of our reality.
Coach Joe