The Lower Self

If we have a higher self then me must also have a lower self. Carl Jung called it the shadow and his famous counterpart Sigmund Freud called it the id. While all these concepts have slightly different meanings they all refer to the hidden and often less desirable parts of us. The lower self is often unconscious because admitting to ourselves that we have these undesirable impulses can be intolerable. We put on a mask of kindness but secretly we believe we are bad because we have not owned the shadow within us. Only by exploring these lower self urges can we shine the light on them and take some of their power away. The truly wise know that they have darkness within them but by acknowledging it they are able to make a different choice.