by Tom Laughlin

We can Never Change Society Until We First
See and Change the Faults in Ourselves

When the unifying idea that drives a civilization dies, when the belief in a Supreme Power and a Supreme Value dies, whether that belief be in a Supreme Being or a political ideal, then the civilization dies ... and an unrestrained escalation of corruption, deceit, immediate gratification and violence becomes society's operating principles, which is exactly what is happening throughout the world today.
  Because "society" is an abstract idea that doesn't exist, and because society is nothing more than the individuals who make up that society, there can be no real or lasting social change unless each of us first has the courage to face our Shadow, our faults and weaknesses, and change ourselves before trying to change the faults in others.
  As long as we remain unconscious of our own faults and weaknesses, but instead project them out onto others, including other individuals, groups and institutions, and spend our time demanding they correct their faults while denying our own, we will never be able to bring about any real healing or permanent change because the other person sees so clearly that same fault exists in us and that we are trying to change them because it is easier than changing ourselves first. Finding the fault in others and correcting them is a convenient way of using their faults and weaknesses as an excuse to maintain our own neurosis and avoid facing our own shadow. We can only change society by first changing ourselves.
  The same is true for those who become filled with the need to "convert" others to their belief, whether that be a religious belief or a new found psychological belief, or system of self-improvement. Why people who are trying to convert us are non-effective and sometimes irritating is because they are not aware that though they believe strongly, even fanatically, in their new religion or psychology in their conscious personality, in their unconscious they do not really believe and they secretly fear their belief is not true. Therefore, they project onto us this unconscious doubt which exists in their shadow, and if they can convert us, then temporarily they can feel a sigh of relief that the belief that they're now trying to build their life on is true. And because what they are really projecting onto us is this shadow of doubt, we instinctively recoil from being the carrier of their shadow, and therefore respond negatively.
  Christ summed this whole problem of projecting our own shadow, our own serious faults and weaknesses, out onto others and converting them because we haven't the courage to face the truth about ourselves, our own faults and weaknesses and do something about them, with His saying, "And why do you behold the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not pay attention to the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite. First take out the beam of your own eye." (Matthew 7:2-5)

Remember, whatever we are in the conscious personality, our Persona personality, we are the opposite in the unconscious.

But because nothing ever happens to us on the outside that does not first happen on the inside, we can begin our journey to finding God by realizing that however you relate to the God of the universe, either positively or negatively, it is nothing more than a projection of how you are relating to the unknown Superior Power and Supreme Value in your unconscious that is controlling your life.

NEXT:
Reason #7: Instead of Denying and Hiding your Shadow, your Faults and Weaknesses, in an Attempt to Find God, the Only Possible Way to Find and Experience the Real God is to Courageously Face your Shadow, your Faults and Weaknesses, your Sins, and Transform Them.