Carl Jung: Why We Must Accept Ourselves Before We Can Help Others

When we project our shadow onto others, we refuse ownership of ourselves—distancing ourselves from ourselves and losing ourselves in the process.

We are too delighted to choose, without a moment's hesitation, the complicated course of remaining in ignorance about ourselves while busying ourselves with other people and their troubles and sins.

This activity lends us a perceptible air of virtue, by means of which we benevolently deceive ourselves and others. God be praised, we have escaped from ourselves at last!

To heal a split in self, a person needs to work with their shadow and learn uncomfortable truths about themselves in the process. Our inner war is softened when we allow ourselves to be seen.