This episode is a supplement to the previous two-parter on “sustaining” within Mormonism—which concentrated especially on times when we find ourselves in some sort of tension with leaders or those in callings whose ideas, teaching style, demeanor, or general approach to the gospel fail to connect positively with us. It features the powerful spiritual teacher Thomas Wirthlin McConkie introducing and leading us through a “shadow practice” exercise. Shadow work is a pathway to self-discovery, as well as loving kindness and compassion, but it begins in disturbance, tension, something unsettled, the appearance of negative emotions whenever we encounter a certain person or situation. Because we typically don’t want to feel such things, we will most often suppress or attempt to ignore them. Shadow work takes the opposite approach. We lean into the feelings, the negative energy. We explore and name them, hone in on the exact things that trigger the negativity and let our minds and emotions have free rein for a while.
And then we take a final step.
Find out what it is.
Shadow work is a practice that will help us see others and ourselves much more clearly, allowing wonderful things begin to unfold.
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