Is Hiding the Shadow an Unconscious Act?
No, it is not always unconscious. It is actually a mix of both. In psychology, hiding parts of yourself happens in two different ways depending on how aware you are of it.
1. The Conscious Part (Suppression)
This is when you know you are hiding something. You are fully aware of a thought or feeling, but you choose to lock it away because you know others won't like it.
- Example: Feeling very angry at a teacher or boss, but forcing yourself to smile and act polite so you do not get into trouble.
2. The Unconscious Part (Repression)
This is when your mind hides something from you. It happens automatically because a thought, memory, or trait is too painful or scary for your brain to handle. You completely forget it is even there.
- Example: Truly believing you are a perfectly kind person, while being completely unaware that you are acting mean or selfishly to people around you.
How to Spot the Unconscious Shadow
Since your mind will not let you see your own hidden flaws, you will often notice them in other people instead. This is called projection. If you find yourself completely hating a specific habit in someone else, it is often a major clue that your unconscious mind is hiding that exact same habit inside you.
