Carl Jung: The Most Terrifying Thing in Life
An unsettling reality-shift from a great mind.
What myths am I living right now? That’s the question I asked myself almost ten years ago before I started doing more of what helps me find flow. I started living my truth: prioritising self-expression. I’ve been practising the “whole life” method for the past ten years. I try to do what helps me integrate all of myself (conscious and unconscious goals). Self-awareness has a lot to do with it. It’s doing wonders for my confidence. I aim to choose what feels right in my heart, body and soul. I’m still on a path to accepting myself completely.
That’s why influential psychologist Carl Jung’s observation on self-integration makes so much sense right now. He notes, “The most terrifying thing in life is to accept oneself completely.” Jung thought self-acceptance is the most important step you can ever take to live your best life. But it’s also one of the frightening steps for most people. He called it “individuation: the process of becoming who you truly are, beyond the masks and fear. He observed it was key to personal freedom. But as Jung said, the most terrifying thing in life isn’t being rejected by others — it’s accepting yourself without holding back.
The scariest thing in life isn’t failure, rejection, or loss.
