Inner Demons or Troublesome Twin?

Fighting Negativity

Like Trying to Catch My Elusive Shadow

Fighting Negativity by Flying Mountain Radio

Photo of the author’s shadow taken by the author

Today is one of those days I want to quit my job, vacate my home, and start all over again — maybe. Simply, I’m very tired. I feel no self-worth, no joy in my work, and no hope or expectations of better days ahead.

And I feel guilty because I know I have the luxury of speaking these words when there are millions of people around the world in truly dire straits.

So, my alter ego will slap my face hard and bark, “Shape up or ship out!” And I’ll recover from my self-abuse and ask, “Which way to the dock?”

What is it about my negativity that keeps coming back just when I thought my life was turning around for the better? It’s like some co-dependent. My shadow isn’t there when the sun is right above me, but as it sets, my shadow reappears and grows bigger.

Does it disappear when dusk begins? No, I become my shadow — figuratively of course. I’m just using my poetic license, not my scientific one.

For health and practical reasons, we can’t stay negative forever. But how can we cope while our shadows are following us or possessing us? I have a few ideas, one of which I have tried with some effect if not “success”.

Three Ways to Ditch Our Shadows

1Get out of the way

Light, or rather its absence, is necessary for the existence of shadows. As long as we’re not talking about the astrophysical phenomenon in which light’s trajectory can bend in the fabric of space-time, visible light travels straight, and a non-transparent object that stands in the way will create a shadow upon a surface.

We all know how our shadows grow longer by the hour as the sun sets until our carbon selves resemble silhouettes — becoming our own shadows.

Well, I often find myself acting as that opaque hindrance to light, representing all that is good. The longer I — a transient embodiment of negativity or victim of some injustice — stand in light’s way, I will give my shadow more stage time. So, shadow, why don’t ya just squat or scat!

2Stay directly under the sun

I don’t mean literally of course. I’m not trying to give anyone a prescription for skin cancer. Figuratively, the longer we bask directly under the constant rays of positivity, the less chance we face of creating shadows. To me, it is akin to language immersion in which we are entirely exposed to nothing else but positive vibes.

It doesn’t need to be something constantly upbeat either. An introvert like me would find it exhausting to be in a room filled with dance music, balloons, and annoyingly gregarious people in my face singing positivity axioms and demands like, “Chin up! Cheer up!” or “Don’t worry, be happy!” — no offense to Bobby McFerrin though.

Simply being in nature deep in the woods or on a clean, sandy beach with a close friend or two — who can either be a kindred human or canine — would be an ideal way to be immersed in my kind of sunshine.

3Embrace your shadow

Wait, what? Yes, let’s embrace it. It’s more proactive than just the fatalistic “If you can’t beat ‘em’, join ’em” mentality. The preparedness and willingness to give our shadows our love and moderate attention places us more in control.

In fact, I find that the more I try to push it away, hide it, or run from it, the stronger the negativity persists. Why is that? I’m not an expert in psychology or psychotherapy. Speaking from my cycling experience, though, I have found that the more I obsess about avoiding an obstacle on the road, the more I lean toward it. Acceptance — which can initially be challenging — is far easier than denial in the long run.

Acknowledging we sometimes have a silly sad side, a cloudy cold countenance, or a pitifully pessimistic personality is healthy, as long as we’re mindful that our mood or temperament will eventually be on the upswing. It’s just in our nature to be like the tides.

A Final Wrap-up

I don’t like giving advice, so I’ll just list reminders to myself as follows:

Hey, Jake-bro, rap this…

1. Don’t block the sunlight — duck down low!
2. Deny your shadow any angle to grow — soak some sun!
3. Delight in your darkness — group hug, honey bun!

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