power in the parts you hide
Because pretending you’re fine stopped working five breakdowns ago.
NOTE: This is the very first edition of the Dark Matter series. To view the full series please visit the archives. Make sure you never miss an issue, hit the subscribe button below.
We all hide aspects of ourselves. The sides we silence, fearing they’re too chaotic, too unrefined, too much. The parts we’ve labeled as "unacceptable."
In this shadow work journey, we’re diving deep into the parts of yourself you usually avoid—the messy, hidden corners that hold more power than you realize.
By the end, you’ll feel more in tune with your true self, more grounded, and ready to stop hiding behind masks.
This is about living authentically.
Accepting the whole of who you are—flaws and all—and stepping into your light.
Are you ready for that level of self-acceptance?
This is where it begins.
What parts of yourself do you lock away?
The things you’re too afraid to face, even in the quiet of your own mind?
Yes, those.
The traits, emotions, desires you’re convinced would make people bolt.
The parts that refuse to conform. So, you push them down. Way down.
But hiding them only messes with your mind.
It leaves you fragmented, like a puzzle with pieces missing. The real transformation happens when you confront that darkness—not to erase it, but to claim it. To accept it into your life.
That’s how you get real. Authentic.
It’s how you stop wearing masks and start living your truth.
Self-acceptance isn’t about being flawless.
It’s about being brutally honest, without apology. You’ll feel more grounded, less scattered. More genuine, less performative.
So, quit pretending. And begin to live authentically.
Own your dark side.
Yeah, really—stop running from it.
If you want to live fully then it’s time to face the parts of you that scare the hell out of you. The ones you’ve stuffed into the farthest corners of your mind, praying they’d stay hidden.
Because at the end of the day, they won’t. And that’s a blessing in disguise.
This isn’t about scrubbing out the "bad" bits.
It’s about seeing them, getting brutally honest, and—brace yourself—accepting them. The parts you’ve labeled ugly? They’re not. They’re potent. They’re just waiting for you to notice.
When you finally shine a light on all of it—the good, the messy, the strange—you unlock a version of yourself that’s raw, real, and balanced.
You’re stronger.
You feel more like you.
And let me tell you, when you stop battling yourself, everything changes. You’ll manage your emotions better, embrace your quirks, and connect with people on a level you didn’t even think was possible.
Grab a pen.
Or a paintbrush. Hell, even a crayon will do.
Just dive into something creative. No rules, no filters.
Why? Because it gives all that bottled-up stuff a way out. The thoughts you keep to yourself. The feelings you bury because they’re messy, complicated, or just too much.
Here’s the trick—when you’re scribbling or creating, your brain stops playing referee. The walls come down. Suddenly, everything you’ve been locking away starts to bubble up.
No need to overthink it.
Whether it’s art, journaling, or doodling, it taps into the subconscious without all the usual mental roadblocks.
And yeah, some of what surfaces might catch you off guard.
Good.
That’s the goal. The real you—unedited, uncensored—finally speaks.
You might come face-to-face with parts of yourself you’ve been dodging, but trust me, you’ll learn something. Maybe something you’ve been avoiding. Maybe something that clicks for the first time.
And honestly—that’s where the real growth kicks in.
Face them.
Those dark corners you’ve been dodging…
It’s time to stare them down. The fear, the insecurities, the old baggage you’ve stuffed out of sight—they're still hanging around, lurking.
But guess what?
Leaning into that discomfort is where the magic sparks.
You stop running. You start evolving.
When you finally confront those buried parts of yourself, things shift.
The weight lifts.
And suddenly—there’s space. Space to breathe. Room for healing. You start seeing clearer. Less chaos. More clarity.
It's like ripping off the mask. No more hiding. No more acting.
And in that raw, unfiltered honesty, something new takes shape.
You, but the full version.
Not bits and pieces. You become whole, grounded, real.
Old patterns are gone. And what's left is a fresh start. A deeper sense of who you are, messy parts and all.
Is it easy?
No.
But is it worth it?
Absolutely.
Because when you stop battling your shadows, you finally step into your own light.
Ever done something and thought, Whoa, where did that come from?
Yeah, we’ve all been there.
It's a little unnerving, right? But here’s the thing—it wasn’t random.
That reaction… that moment of "what just happened?"… was your shadow self creeping in, the part of you that’s been hanging out in the background, packed with all the things you don’t like to admit exist.
Buried desires, repressed fears, old wounds—it’s all there.
And sometimes, it just takes control.
Those moments when you surprise yourself aren’t flukes. They’re flares from the parts of you that are sick of being ignored.
When you dig into what really triggered that strange, out-of-character behavior, you start uncovering the truth behind your own mask. You begin connecting the dots, figuring out what you’ve been pushing down—and why.
It’s messy, no doubt.
But getting real with yourself, facing the things you’ve been hiding is where the transformation happens.
You stop letting those hidden parts run the show from behind the scenes. You drag them into the light, piece by piece, and suddenly—boom—you start feeling more like you.
Whole.
Balanced. Complete.
In this journey of shadow work, we've explored some key questions and exercises designed to bring your hidden self into the light.
Let's recap the most important takeaways:
What parts of yourself do you lock away? Reflect on the traits, emotions, and desires you’ve buried deep because they feel too messy, chaotic, or unacceptable. These aren't flaws; they’re part of who you are. Avoiding them creates fragmentation, but acknowledging them brings clarity and wholeness.
Own your dark side. Stop running from the parts of yourself that scare you. Embrace them instead. These so-called "ugly" bits hold incredible power, and integrating them makes you stronger, more balanced, and more authentically you.
Grab a pen, paintbrush, or crayon. Creativity opens the door to the subconscious, allowing those buried feelings and thoughts to emerge. Whether through art, journaling, or doodling, creating without judgment helps you process what’s been locked away. It might surprise you, but that’s where the real growth begins.
Face your shadows. Lean into the discomfort of confronting your fears, insecurities, and old baggage. This is where transformation happens. By facing those parts of yourself, you create space for healing, clarity, and a deeper sense of self.
Connect the dots. When you act in ways that surprise you, it’s often your shadow self rising to the surface. Digging into what triggered those moments helps you uncover the truth behind your own mask. It’s messy, but it’s necessary for true self-understanding.
At the end of the day, this work isn’t easy.
It’s uncomfortable, messy, and raw—but it's worth it.
By embracing every part of yourself, you stop living in fragments and step into your own light. Whole. Grounded. Complete.
—Ryan Puusaari
P.S. Your time and engagement with this edition mean a lot. Every reader adds value to our journey together.
P.S.S. "The parts of yourself you hide in the shadows are the very ones holding the keys to your brightest light."
Your Year of Self-Discovery: The 365-Day Shadow Work Series
I’m excited to introduce the 365-Day Shadow Work Series—a collection of journals filled with carefully crafted prompts and reflective questions for deep healing.
This series tackles key areas like overcoming sadness, building self-appreciation, and practicing forgiveness, helping you confront and release what no longer serves you.
Each journal is designed with intention, offering meaningful guidance to support and elevate your journey every step of the way.
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