September 30 – Owning your Shadow, Finding Peace
The shadow is not a problem to be solved, it is a mystery to be lived with, and a doorway to our deepest humanity. Robert A. Johnson
Gregg’s Reflection
For much of my life, I believed the spiritual journey was about polishing away flaws, creating a cleaner version of myself for God to approve. But shadow work has taught me otherwise. Wholeness is not about perfection, it’s about integration. The parts of myself I tried hardest to deny or suppress only grew stronger in secret. When I began to name and welcome them, I found a surprising grace—a peace that came not from hiding but from honesty.
I think of my angers, fears, and even my ambitions as pieces of the story that God is still redeeming. The shadow, when brought into the light, becomes less a threat and more a teacher. It shows me where I’m unfinished, where mercy has yet to soak in. And as I release the need to defend or pretend, I discover a deeper authenticity—less performance, more presence.
Owning the shadow doesn’t mean I suddenly live without contradiction. It means I live more truthfully, less bound by fear of what others might see. Peace, I’ve found, is not the absence of flaws but the freedom of being fully seen, fully known, and still fully loved by God.
Scripture
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7
Ancient Quotes
The nearer a man comes to a state of quiet, the closer he approaches to peace, and the further he departs from himself, the more he advances into God.
Meister Eckhart, Talks of Instruction
Modern Quotes
The shadow is not a problem to be solved, it is a mystery to be lived with, and a doorway to our deepest humanity.
Robert A. Johnson, Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche, p. 27
Wholeness does not mean perfection: it means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life.
Parker J. Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness, p. 63
Journaling Prompts
- What parts of yourself have you tried hardest to suppress or hide?
- How might bringing them into God’s light change the way you see them?
- Where have you experienced peace, not by erasing flaws, but by embracing honesty?
- How could owning your shadow make you a more authentic presence in the lives of others?
When we deny our shadow, are not only denying that which we deem unacceptable. We also deny our golden shadow, beautiful gifts and capabilities that we project on others, and can’t believe we ourselves possess. Live into fullness by embracing your shadow.
Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 39 Reflection: Shadow Work/Own Your Shadow