As we come into being in the natural world we enter into a set of customs. We are obliged to conform to society's expectations and demands. "They say..." we must do this or be like the Other. These expectations become internalized in our unconscious mind, but they eventually creep into the foreground. The Self is systematically attacked by concepts which deceive us into believing that the established norms of society are of our own choosing.
We are constantly striving for meaning. The meaning of our particular existence is either self-created or imposed by the exterior world. In this pursuit towards meaning we often become victim of our ideology. We turn away from uncomfortable truths, and sublimate the darkest aspect of our being.
The Self is a work in process structured by the past, the present and its future projections. When we aspire to become independent we often forget that we are beings trapped in space & time. As individuals we live in relationship with the Other, and at the same time we are ultimately alone with our Self.
When we are anxious, empty and isolated we are in the arena of the Self. This is a moment in which we feel the full weight of existence. In that nothingness we cast a shadow emanating from our innermost fears: the fear of death, the fear of isolation and the fear of the Unknown, etc. To the uninitiated these fears become projected unto the Other, and become barriers in their self-development. For it is much easier to blame others for our fears, then it is to confront them.
We are the light & the darkness
The exterior world as it appears to us is a reflection of our inner-being; what we choose to perceive says a lot about us. When we choose to solely focus on the positive, or the negative aspects of our being we are deceiving ourselves. To live in a one-season world is practically impossible. We become entrapped in our own suffering when we try to run away from our shadow. If we are to be truly free we must confront our self-imposed limitations.
To lead a truly meaningful life we must deconstruct the various layers of illusions which beguile us into a false sense of Self. We don't exist for the sole sake of Others, but for our own sake. In this brief existence we are tasked with the responsibility of creating meaning out of the nothingness. What role will you play? Will you be swept away in the meaningless pursuit of pleasure? Will you be consumed by the crowd? Or will you stand in your own shadow and face your Self?