Using Carl Jung's theory of Shadow, Dr. Chou will demonstrate how shadow influences our daily lives, and how transformation of shadow holds the key to inner peace and happiness.

Shadow refers to aspects of ourselves we would either deny, hide or disown. Because of the discomfort it provokes, it is a common defence mechanism to push our shadows away and project such undesirable aspects onto others.

A quality I dislike in others is often the quality I dislike in myself. The extent to which I am critical of others reveals the extent to which I savage myself. The more I reject myself, the more I tend to focus and reject such qualities in others. For example, if I detest my own arrogance, I will be triggered by others' arrogance and I tend to criticize them as a means to shift my self-loath. I can then safely label 'arrogance' as 'their problem, not mine'. That's why we love to criticize and blame. However, the more we blame, the more we disown ourselves. What I disown, owns me.

Shadows could be dark or golden. Dark shadows are aspects we dislike in ourselves and project onto other people. Golden shadows, the other side of the same coin, are beautiful qualities we feel we don't deserve and so disown and externalize them onto someone we adore.

Shadow can be a collective issue as we have collective fear. Therefore, some people project women as fragile, black skin as dirty, Chinese as passive, Iranian as evil, and gay as promiscuous, etc. When a group feels insecure or threatened, a common defence is to create an 'enemy'.

To face, accept and embrace my shadow is to take 100% responsibility of my action and results. Only then comes the realization that all my battles with others are really battles between me and my projected enemies. No one can really harm me unless I choose to harm myself. To reclaim our shadow is to reclaim our wholeness and congruent integrity. As long as we keep hiding, masquerading, and denying what is actually inside us, we will be tormented by our own disharmony.

Shadow Transformation Workshop is experiential, deep and safe. We will reclaim and embrace our shadows to create new horizons and possibilities in our life. It is a joyful and blissful journey in which we will be inspired, empowered and transformed. The workshop will be conducted in English.

About the presenter:

Dr. Chou taught Sociology and Psychoanalysis in Hong Kong Polytechnic University (1989-1991) and in Hong Kong University (1994-1998). He has published 29 books and now conducts experiential workshops for personal growth.

Targets: Anyone who wants to gain these benefits:

Shadow Transformation Workshop