Don't miss out on all the potential you have inside
Ignoring your feelings, postponing your dreams, muzzling your inner voice so that it does not bother you or others, reading only on holidays due to lack of time, or neglecting your hobbies are all different types of self-abuse.
The reason why we beat ourselves up in life is what I want to talk to you about today in this post.
To do this, I am going to begin by defining the concept of "inner voice" which, in general terms, we could say is that internal dialogue or intuition that guides us through life.
But if we go a little further, we see, in Jungian terms, how this inner voice often refers to the "anima" or "animus", that is, the archetypal images that represent the unconscious feminine aspects in men (anima) and the unconscious masculine aspects in women (animus).
However, this inner voice can also be seen as a manifestation of the "I" (Ego), which is the centre of consciousness and is part of the self.
The inner voice can manifest itself in a variety of ways, such as intuition, dreams, fantasies, or unconscious impulses, and serves as a guiding force that influences our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Jung believed that the integration of the anima or animus was essential for personal development and individuation, which is the process of becoming authentic and fully integrated.
Neglecting or quietening this inner voice can have important consequences since this means ignoring or suppressing aspects of our unconscious mind. How we reach this deterioration has a lot to do with our daily life, that is, our conscious part.
In the busy coming and going of our routines and contact with others, we accumulate experiences. Sometimes these are positive since they inspire us and lead us to take action, but on other occasions, these experiences are negative in that they kill our dreams by infesting them with a toxic reality that only transforms all that positive energy into a deformed mass of negative elements that we end up parking in "the shadows".
Of course, we do this without realizing it but it has very destructive consequences in the long term. In the next lines, I am going to show you some side effects of this self-mutilation.
Consequences of ignoring our inner voice:
Repression: Jung believed that ignoring our inner voice often leads to the repression of important aspects of our psyche, including parts of ourselves that we find uncomfortable or unacceptable. These repressed elements form what he called the "shadow", a functional complex that contains aspects that we deny or suppress. Ignoring our inner voice can exacerbate the divide between our conscious and unconscious selves, making it difficult to integrate these dark aspects healthily.
Interferences in the process of Individuation: Jung also proposed the concept of individuation, as the process of integrating all aspects of the psyche into a cohesive whole. Neglecting our inner voice can impede this process since it does not allow us to recognise and incorporate the various aspects of ourselves. If we do not listen to our inner voice, we can become trapped in patterns of behaviour dictated by unconscious forces rather than consciously chosen.
Lack of self-awareness and authenticity: Ignoring our inner voice can lead to a lack of self-awareness and authenticity. Jung believed that listening to our inner voice helps us gain information about our true desires, motivations, and values. This self-awareness is essential to living an authentic life and making decisions that align with a deeper sense of ourselves. When we neglect our inner voice, we run the risk of living according to social expectations or external influences instead of our own internal truths.
Psychological imbalance: Jungian psychology emphasizes the importance of achieving balance and psychological wholeness. Neglecting our inner voice can contribute to psychological imbalance, as it alters the natural flow of psychic energy and can cause internal conflicts, anxiety or depression. By paying attention to our inner voice and engaging with our unconscious, we can work toward a greater sense of balance and well-being.
If you think about it, ignoring yourself is a type of psychological abuse for which you blame the world around you, which leads to the deterioration of your personal and professional relationships.
We certainly cannot change where, when, or who we were born from, but there are many other things that we can change to be a little happier and this work begins by listening to yourself.
One way you can do this is through the analysis of Gothic productions, both works and television series or films, among other artistic expressions.
The healing power of Gothic literature
Analysing the role of our inner voice in decision-making, intuition and self-awareness is something we can do through our passion for Gothic literature or productions with Gothic elements.
Below I am going to explain how to connect with your inner voice in this way:
Exploration of the shadows: Gothic often features characters who embody the dark aspects of human nature, that is, those parts that are repressed or denied. By encountering these characters in Gothic narratives, we are driven to confront our shadows and integrate them into consciousness.
Archetypal images: The Gothic genre frequently uses archetypal images, such as haunted houses, mysterious strangers, and dark forests, which can evoke powerful psychological responses and aid self-reflection.
Exploration of the unconscious: Through its eerie atmospheres and strange plot twists, Gothic literature often explores the depths of the unconscious mind. By immersing ourselves in these narratives, we can access our unconscious realms and understand our most intimate thoughts and feelings.
Symbolic representation of internal conflicts: Many Gothic stories feature characters struggling with internal conflicts, such as the struggle between good and evil or the tension between rationality and irrationality. These conflicts can serve as allegories for our psychological struggles in our own lives, leading us to reflect on our internal conflicts and how we might resolve them.
Integration of opposed forces: Gothic literature often explores themes of duality and polarity, providing us with opportunities to contemplate how we might achieve greater wholeness and balance within ourselves.
As you can see, Gothic literature is a powerful tool that can help us explore the depths of the psyche and listen to our inner voice, confront our shadow, interact with archetypal images, delve into the unconscious, reflect on internal conflicts and strive for psychological integration.
So, now that you have raised awareness, are you going to stop postponing everything that makes you who you are because of what people might say or because you feel guilty? Let me know in the comments.
Conclusions
The inner voice is that kind of guide that helps us maintain balance.
Knowing how to listen to our intuition, analyse our dreams, listen to our fantasies and unconscious impulses are ways to contact our "inner voice".
Jungian psychology offers us a path to connect with our essence.
Repressing all unconscious aspects leads to the creation of the functional complex that is the shadow, interrupting our individuation process and making us lose authenticity and therefore unbalancing us.
Gothic literature helps us explore shadows through elements such as archetypal images and symbolic representations of internal conflicts and integrating opposing forces that exist within us.
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If you are in a process of self-recognition and personal development and want to embark on a journey that will open the doors to many opportunities both personally and professionally, don't miss my mentoring: Exploring the Gothic psyche: Jungian concepts in Gothic Literature where I help you connect with your internal figures to contribute to your personal and professional development. For more information about the course visit the following page:
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As you delve deeper into the Gothic, you will discover a path to greatness and personal authenticity that will surprise you.
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I hope to see you very soon.
Until the next entry
Stay Gothic, my friend!
Alice