The Dark Side of the Light Chasers

After a few rattling dreams, I realized my subconscious was pushing me to "deal" with my shadow side. Without any idea how to do so, I found this book and it has been powerful. The book has opened my eyes to several things about my life that is changing my attitudes, behaviors and most importantly my perspective on life. I think often times, you're told by others, "it's all perspective - that is the key to change." But it's hard to know what that means. I've followed several exercises in the book - and it changed my perspective - allowing me to let go (another one of those things people say you should do, but hard to know how.)The exercise where you own words you have judged others on by saying "I am _____" was particularly powerful for me. As I said them, I can feel these words just pushing at me at parts of my energy body. It's like something there needed to be released. The more I said it, the more it released. At times, it hurt. There was a tremendous amount of pain to release. But it was the most painful ones that was the most rewarding. As she said in her book - you felt lighter. This feeling of burying a secret inside yourself no longer needed to be veiled.It's changed the way I view people in a way I never thought possible. I now see people I dislike as my teachers - people who are brought to me to show me parts of myself I need to accept. And that has had a profound and completely amazing effect on my relationship with those people. All of a sudden, the tension lifted... and we got along better.I was also going through a period where I needed to reconcile the "old" me who was egotistical and ambitious and the "new" me who strived to be compassionate and humble. I beat myself up for having been that person, and was working so hard to suppress those old parts of myself and it was causing me to be depressed about who I am. The book made me realize that I didn't need to suppress that person - instead, it needed acceptance and there's no reason to completely put that part of myself away.It wasn't until after I finished the book that I found out Debbie Ford is no longer with us and had such a long struggle with cancer. Indeed, some may wonder about her teachings if she was sick - then could we really listen to this way of healing through shadow work? But I think it makes her human. The whole idea of the shadow is that it's always there. We will always struggle with the shadow - even the teacher.

I bought this copy for my mom. I'm about 3/4 of the way through the book and things are really starting to click with me. I struggled in the beginning finding the negative aspects of myself, but as I read on and DID THE EXERCISES, things started to get easier and I started connecting with the book. It's written very well and an easy read. Debbie (R.I.P.) really breaks things down to help you to get to your shadow self and find those aspects of yourself that you try to hide from the world, but mostly hide from yourself. Then she has you integrate those aspects into your life, which can be challenging, but she gives you the tools and exercises needed to do it. I used my phone to record the exercises which require either a quiet mind starting with deep breaths and your imagination or a quiet mind and access to your subconscious. It's easier to listen to the words in the exercise, then turn around and immediately start writing what your experience was. I highly recommend recording your voice for the exercises. It might sound cheesy, and you may want to wait until no one is home for privacy's sake if you're unable to sneak off for some alone time, but I guarantee it's worth it. The exercises really help and the book itself is incredibly helpful in finding that balance between your shadow self and your conscious self and integrating them. This book is for everyone because we all have a shadow self and it's a blessing to shine the light on it and let it be part of your true self.

It help me out a lot.

This came at exactly the right time for me and the funny thing is.... I have had this book read to me before. I've been parroting the stuff about projections and repression for years, vaguely remembered rules and mechanics on how it all works but never really looking in the mirror or thinking about how it applied to me. There was so much in here that helped me face what I was actually saying, my inner parts talking to me, trying to be heard, even in my conversations with other people. As other reviews have said, this is not for the faint of heart and even being completely willing to listen, you will find resistance in yourself, justifications and rationalizations for why it is dumb to cry about a fallen ice cream when you were little, why simply getting yourself flowers is not only "self-absorbed" but pathetic and lame. Things that we think other people will think when they see us caring and nurturing ourselves, uncovering and healing past wounds. It is so hard to shake off that internal self-consciousness because we've gotten so used to lying to ourselves that being fragmented is preferred, that fighting your projections is how things are supposed to be, that giving away control over yourself and your life is easier. It isn't. It isn't even less painful than facing the truth. This isn't a book to pick and choose what you like and what you're going to listen to. The concepts are sound, through and through, and the mechanics of healing work, if you're honest and willing to let go of the masks.

This is a good, well-written book about the concept of the shadow side of ourselves. After you read this book, you'll recognize the shadow in others and gain greater understanding and awareness of people's motives. However, if you are reading the book to gain better insight into yourself, know that it is much more difficult to see your own faults and foibles. Also, I'm not sure how even knowing your shadow can help you unless you also practice mindfulness and know how to cultivate that, which this book doesn't necessarily go into in depth.

Other than the front cover has been damaged by a large fold top right corner, and I can't be bothered to return it, I am familiar with Debbie's work and look forward to the exercises.

Very interesting book, with a different approach from all the other books I've read so far.

It’s just what I needed to start my inner journey for deep healing. It presents exercises to let go of limitations, negative beliefs and patterns. Thanks Debbie Ford, your legacy is pure gold! I love you.

Es hilft einem sehr gut, manche seiner eigenen Gedanken zu verstehen und sich damit "vertragen" zu können. Ich habe festgestellt, dass ich mich unterbewusst sehr viel mit den Dingen aus dem Buch beschäftige, was ich gut finde.

Eye opener and super engaging!