The Shadow of the Persona

To progress, one must confront their psychological shadow, which is cast by the persona, the mask we wear in society. The persona is formed early in life as we adapt to gain approval and hide unwanted character traits. Over time, we identify with our persona and repress unwanted traits, forming the shadow. The shadow is the inferior part of our personality that operates autonomously in the unconscious. It manifests through projection, where we see our own faults in others and criticize them. The world is filled with scapegoats, as unresolved aspects of ourselves continue to exist.