yikes! hehehh

I'm definitely a 'mixed bag of nuts' to be sure but I have always found doing anything that may harm someone so distasteful I just don't have it in me, so far anyway. People that do harm others just make me feel very ill about the human condition -- but I suppose it is all in the eyes of the beholder on so much of these issues. What the 'law' allows or what 'rules' are being applied -- and then what is just for one may not be for someone else so there is that issue also.

Very complicated topic for a simple answer -- I don't have one.

I don't have a simple answer. I feel like I have a 'mysterious' side I guess that people perceive as dark. My standoffishness is just my embarrassment over having mental illness and I don't tell people about it for obvious reasons.

But I would never intentionally go out of my way to hurt someone, no. I've been hurt badly in the past and wouldn't wish the pain on anyone. I'm even a forgiver...

I think we're a mixed bag as well.... I work on keeping my dark side at bay... or understanding what triggers the darkness in order to calm it

Oh HECK YES. I have a very bad side. But because of my faith, there is good in me, though I have to fight everyday to let that show. The good is not on my own, that 's fursure.

Fighting to have the good on surface is exhausting. I try but sometimes it's just too much for me. Right now I'd love nothing more than to get wasted and wild crazy sex with some random person then forget about it but noooo, I'm gonna be a good girl and stay in bed.

I get some horrific thoughts and ideas now and then.
And having acted in anger against some people I know I have a dark side. I bet we all do. Ying/Yang Good/Evil

Come to the Dark Side.....we have cookies!!

I do think the ego gets in the way! Those bad and negative thoughts that tear us down and make us feel be, we don't have to listen to them they are separate from us. Think about the three way conversations that go on in your head constantly. Good in Good out, garbage in garbage out! Yes I do think we have a bad side but we have a choice to go with one or the other. The good side is usually the best although not always popular and a lot of times it is kind of boring but passes, time changes.

I used to think I "had" a dark side. I took into consideration that I was Human, and Because of that - of course I had a dark side!

I did not Understand that no matter What "side" came knocking at my "door", I had to choose to Accept it into me - to Receive it, or to turn it away. I now know there is a Choice, though it may be a Battle...



STORY OF TWO WOLVES

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy

It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed,
arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies,
false pride, superiority, and ego."

He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love,
hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy,
generosity, truth, compassion, and faith

The same fight is going on inside you -
and inside every other person, too

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then
asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Here's an interesting quote:


The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong.


C.G. Jung

This " right vs wrong" attitude that condemns is part of why some people have such a hard time with the shadow. A thought is just a thought, a feeling just a feeling, a dream is just a dream. We can let them be what they are -without invalidating them-and chose not to act on action urges because they are nonsense or ineffective. That is why awareness of triggers are important..so we can identify, understand and then let go of what isn't safe. This is something we learn to use mindfulness with and by being mindful it takes away the general fears of confronting the shadow or just looking into the shadow.

Nice, MA. I think having BP tends to focus on the fact that we have a dark side. Like a stereotype at times. But just because we have BP doesn't mean we are obligated to behave badly. We can learn to be conscious of our behaviors, right?

I agree, Sensitive. And mayismerry, that's it Exactly, though sometimes it's so Hard just to "reject" those thoughts and feelings when they come in!

Depends on what "things" we have Fed more in our lives; I gave up smoking about 6 months ago, and I Know it's for good, but the "attachment" I had for smoking was SO much Less than the attachment I have built to Food.

Therefore, while I am "quitting" letting food Control me, the Thoughts come back, over and over, and I do battle Daily to keep on track with losing weight. Because it was Literally the "wolf" that I Fed more, instead of the attachment to smoking, or anything Else;

It's still a Choice, though we have to make it every day.

And truly Dark things? They work the same way; they really do. But I acknowledge, on behalf of All people who struggle with Darker issues, that it is So Hard. At some point, it becomes difficult to even Separate from the darkness, to know where WE end, and the darkness Begins.

It can be conquered, though not all will and I do Not think them weak for giving up. I have battled some particularly Dark issues in my time, that had become attachments, and I had Angels helping; it's Overwhelming. It's Hard.

:/

I find it dealing with the shadow is kind of like an onion. We have to peel back layers and each layer is an area we might work to accept and then let go of the unhealthy attachement. But we would never have that ability if the dark side didn't bring it to our attention. That is why ,in my opinion, our dark side wants to be embraced for what it is..it is a helper in it's own way. We must be willing to deal with those issues to find a better understanding of ourselves..more peace.

Attachments sure can be a buggers to deal with..but great lessons to learn. But it is an ongoing process that is the way of life. It just seems once you have done some of that it is not as scary anymore. Of course it is just one day at a time one step at a time since we can't master everything at once. That is where patience lies...(not my most favorite area) but well worth listening to the teachings of it.

nester, I polish the halo daily!!!! I also am careful that it doesn't choke me or blind other people. balance is so important!

dobie - don't forget we've got to have bacon too......and maybe some ice-cream!

Iam can you choose someone for fun and have wild crazy sex without getting wasted or just have one or two drinks. there's nothing wrong with that.. it's a perfectly healthy normal thing for two consenting adults to participate in without feeling bad about it. are you catholic? it is fun!!!

Everyone has a dark side, a good and bad. The two halves make ujp the whole