#half life 1 stimboard

[puyostim]

gordon freeman w beavers and orange for an anon

🌇 🌇 🌇

🦫 🦫 🦫

🌇 🌇 🌇

[ellis-stims]

☆ 〃barney calhoun (hl1) stimboard !

[ pt: barney calhoun (hl1) stimboard ! end pt. ]

x | x | x x | x | x x | x | x

↪ self-indulgent stimboard :3

[paintedcomputer]

hello!! welcome to my Main Blog which you likely found either through a sideblog, a post I made or because I reblogged something! this is my Pinned Post so have fun reading it

Toyhouse - Artfight - Strawpage - Carrd

———————————

-> I do OC x Canon and I also selfship! please do not follow this account unless you're fine with that. I probably won't post on main that often but I still do it and have it on my toyhouse [more public lol]. selfshipping is reserved to a blog which is NOT being shared to anyone but is also present on my toyhouse

-> please do not repost my artwork, aka taking something I drew and posting it instead of reblogging me. doesn't matter if we're friends, I'm not comfortable with people posting my artwork

-> artwork I make can be used as a pfp/banner with credit as long as it's not one of my ocs or personal artwork [feel free to ask]. I'm also fine with my art being used in stimboards [fanart of ocs/media characters] as long as you tag me in it

-> no dni list but I do block freely. proshippers/comshippers whatever they're called aren't allowed here. I also do not appreciate any users that create feral nsfw

———————————

-> I go by Nines, Loop and Siffrin! I often go by other names and I'll update this whenever I wanna go by multiple or a different name -> I use He/Him pronouns! I would prefer if They/Them wasn't used on me unless you didn't know -> 18yrs old! birthday is: feb 5th -> taken by @eeveekitti

-> I am French Canadian!! my first language is French so I apologize if I struggle to speak in English if we vc [pronouncing words is difficult] or struggling in writing [can't make words make sense sometimes] -> DO NOT interact with me if you make " oh [character] hates the french " or anything similar. especially if you find it funny, get out of my page

I started doing digital art around 2016 [as far as I know] and I'm entirely self taught! I love to draw, being able to create is an awesome thing!! my oldest sister is my inspiration

———————————

one of my friends! you should follow them

@finalserenade

feel free to let me know if you wanna be added here!!! I am not great at knowing who considers me a friend sooo :3

———————————

Interests [most of them!! you can find the rest on my carrd]

-> Transformers -> Detroit: Become Human -> Grace [roblox] -> Pressure [roblox] -> Demon Slayer -> FNAF -> Undertale / Deltarune -> Half Life + Entropy Zero -> ULTRAKILL -> OFF -> Star Trek -> Hades

———————————

-> Friends / Mutuals are allowed to have my discord! I am most active there to chat so just ask me for my username and i'll send it over!

-> I am a Multifandom blog, I won't be only posting or reblogging from 1 specific fandom. don't follow me if you expect only one thing

-> I Cannot look at my " Following " tab due to me following way too many people. if you want me to see a post, please send it to me or else I won't see it unless I have notifications on for you but in the end it depends on how focused I am

———————————

tags

#kaizen’s art -> artwork

#Frosted Stars -> wc oc story

———————————

my main sona, Kaizen!

Black Panther

Mask + Horns -> based off Subspace

———————————

sideblogs

@councilships -> selfship blog!

@dreamersrifting -> alt blog where I reblog/post anything I don't wanna put onto my main

@council--board + @ultrastim -> stimboard blogs! I create boards on these blogs and I take requests from others

@frostedstarscomic -> original story, might revamp soon

@the-eyefestation + @ask-solace -> media ask blogs! these are blogs I have where you can send asks to them which are related to media characters

@ask-frostmoon -> ask blog for one of my ocs

@artificer-doesnt-belong-here + @ultrakill-in-places -> blogs where I edit media characters into random places not part of their universe

@heavenskinning -> kin blog

[meilia-stims]

i love your posts sm!! can i request a barney calhoun themed board (specifically from half life 1) with no slime? :D

Barney Calhoun (Half Life) stimboard for @jasonpenni without slime

⚙️ ⚙️ ⚙️

⚙️ ⚙️ ⚙️

⚙️ ⚙️ ⚙️

[multiversal-stims]

I will let the wind go quietly

Omega Hosgar ([one] of my Half life self inserts) stimboard for me <3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

[its-stimsca]

Stimboard of the Life Series because Secret life!!!! Yippee!!!!!! Stimtober day 22 also :]

❤️ ❤️ ❤️

💛 🚦 💛

💚 💚 💚

ID below cut

[Image ID

Gif 1: A person wearing a set of fursuit paws putting their hands together separates them, showing off the paw pads. The main fur color is red, the claws are yellow, and the paw pads are green.

Gif 2: A pair of hands breaks a piece of clay filled with slime in half, pulling the two pieces apart to show off the slime. The clay is styled to look like a piece of chocolate. The clay is a light red, the slime being a brighter shade of red. There are two more squares of clay behind the first one, one being colored green, and one being colored yellow.

Gif 3: The candy Mike and Ike’s being poured into a glass bowl. The candies come in red, orange, yellow, and green, and are shaped like pills.

Gif 5: An apple being drawn onto a yellow notepad with a red spiral binding the pages together. It’s being drawn with a green crayon.

Gif 6: A hand showing off three pairs of earrings. They are circular and flat, each printed with the texture of knit fabric. The top pair is green, middle pair is yellow, and the bottom pair is red.

Gif 7: Green liquid is poured into a yellow drink. The drink has mint leaves and red berries already inside.

Gif 8: A holographic snake sticker being shown off to the camera. The snake is white with green spots, and is coiled up.

Gif 9: A green parrot eating a mango in the jungle. It has a red spot on its face, and blue on the edges of its wings.

End ID]

[bat-bytes-back]

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

hello, we're CB! you can also call us Entity. We're a DID system that's bodily 18 years old and we use he/hymn pronouns (changes around a bit) collectively unless an alter says differently. Do not collectively refer to us as they/them. We're a genderqueer dykefag =)

The DNI list is just standard DNI shit. Y'know like, racists, pedos, zionists, ect you get the deal. Also, I block freely! Don't like that? Aw, well that's just too bad ain't it.

our Asks are always open btw, we just might not respond instantly or something

Our main interests right now gotta be Half-Life, Ultrakill, and Terraria. However! We do like a lot of shit outside that, like any ol shooter games and stuff. This is a multi-fandom blog!

yeah I'm a fan of music, yeah I can name 3 songs. I'm gonna name artists/bands instead though! Apartment Number 6, The Twilight Sad, Talking Heads, Mitski, and The Smiths my beloveds.

(I <3 absolutely bit crushing images into tiny stamps)

FOR THE TAGGING SYSTEM

#banger art = Other people's art that I reblog. I like to look through this tag like I'm going through a gallery walk

#bat draws = Our art

#does my voice annoy you = just us yapping about shit

#I regret nothing = answering asks

We have a total of one(1) side blogs that we still use and it's barely active lol. it's our graphics and stimboard account feel free to follow if you want I literally don't care what u do just have fun foo

um. extra links jumpscare.

[sassy-man-apocalypse]

HELLO TUMBLR!!

I haven't done an intro that's embarrassing

Okay here it goes

☆ — LINKS ; Carrd Tiktok Spotify Pinterest

Hello there !

You can call me Hellphure, Alto, Michael, Sable, or Jack !

Please use xe/xem when referring to me unless we are close :.3

Tags you should check out ;

★ — #phure talks — rambles or text posts

★ — #phure art — art that I make with my own two paws

★ — #phure stims — stimboards made by yours truly — edit : #phure stims will no longer be used. Check out stimphure, my side blog, for more stimboards!!

★ — #phure things — other stuff ^_^^

★ — #phure reposts — things I find silly or interesting

★ — #phure answers — answering u guys' asks !!

The following stuff is all in my Carrd, so if you've read it already it's all echo :.3

☆ — SPECIAL INTERESTS ;

SCP ⋆ FNaF ⋆ Warrior Cats ⋆ Animals ⋆ Dinosaurs

☆ — HYPERFIXATIONS ;

Mandela Catalogue ⋆ Franbow ⋆ Rainworld ⋆ Slime Rancher ⋆ ARK ⋆ Pokemon ⋆ Niche ⋆ The Hotel ⋆ The Magnus Archives ⋆ Animal Crossing ⋆ Dialtown ⋆ The Stanley Parable ⋆ Walten Files ⋆ Poppee The Performer ⋆ Harmony & Horror ⋆ Undertale ⋆ Deltarune ⋆ Cryptid Crush ⋆ Team Fortress 2 ⋆ Half Life ⋆ HLVRAI ⋆ Lookouts ⋆ Elevator Hitch ⋆ Cult Of The Lamb ⋆ Lackadaisy ⋆ Moral Orel

☆ — CURRENT I-WONT-SHUT-UP-ABOUT-IT ;

SCP ⋆ Warrior Cats ⋆ Dialtown

♣︎ — DO NOT INTERACT ;

1 — basic dni criteria

2 — unsolicited venting

3 — anti-therians

4 — anti-otherkin / fictkin

5 — anti-neopronouns / xenogenders

6 — anti-recovery irls

7 — fakers of any kind

8 — endos / tulpas

And other stuff — because it's not on here doesn't mean it won't be. Subject to change.

♧ — BEFORE YOU INTERACT ;

1 — autistic

2 — adhd

3 — psychosis

4 — therian

5 — fictkin + otherkin

6 — infodumper

7 — anger issues

8 — low attention span

9 — gets attached easily

And other stuff — please be patient.

If you want to chat, my messages are open ! I can send you my discord from there :.)

that's it for now ^_^^ bye bye !!

[botherbug]

Stimboard/gif REQUESTS

I have the right to deny/ignore any requests. Obviously. Because this whole thing is for fun for me.

Also i take forever to do requests :3 youve been warned. BUT requests are always offically OPEN. So thats the cost.

WHITELIST:

BUGS, INSECTS, FISH, OTHER CREEPY CRAWLIES, FNAF(all games/books/movie), Better Call Saul, PVZ(mostly game 1 but any other games too), Spongebob Squarepants, Portal (1+2), Minecraft, Disco Elysium, Pokemon, TF2, ShowBiz/RockAFire/CEC, Slime Rancher(1+2), MLP G4(mostly familiar with early seasons tho), MLP G3, Flight Rising, Half Life(all games), HLVRAI, ihnmaims, Winnie the Pooh, Sesame Street(and adjacent), Sprout kid shows (goodnight star and chica and pajanimals and such), Metal Gear Rising Revengence, Dan Vs., Most Don Bluth films, DHMIS(web series+TV) Death Note, Hermitcraft, Life Series, GTA5(though maybe that games too explicit for this blog. Idk. This one might change), Beastarrrs????(same considering warning as before..)

i guess, ok now we are getting in territory where im listing stuff based on mostly just familarity and not invested enjoyment

Greylist???: ace attorney, roblox in general(idk most games now adays but i will do boards), SCP, Magnus Archives, Deltarune, Undertale, Animal Crossing, The Walten Files, All Tomorrows(?? Be the first person to request that. Thatll be shocking. In a good way), DSAF, Sonic(and friends), Mario(and friends), mmmost fnaf-related youtube series, Owl House (my sibling infodumps about it to me, so im qualified), Cult of Lamb(same as before), Steven Universe (same as before... to a lesser extent), stardew valley. General themes such as colors, animals, vibes. Music.

I'll also be happy to make gifs of just a specifc topic/type or from a specific video if u send it over.

OH, and ill do joke stimboards but I'll take it too seriously and try to make it decent. Challenge me.

...

BLACKLIST:

Fandoms that are heavily focused on sexual things, Fandoms that are based around yandere tropes, Probably more to be added here.

...

I made my list very long and annoying on purpose but feel free to send a request for anything not listed on the white/greylist!!

[ellis-stims]

☆ 〃gman stimboard !

[ pt: gman stimboard ! end pt. ]

x | x | x x | x | x x | x | x

↪ self-indulgent stimboard :3

[puyostim]

hi! can i request a stimboard of gordon freeman from half-life 1 with themes of beavers and the color orange? tysm!

yes

[nelsontethers]

[ID: A 9 gif stimboard of half life in game footage.

1: green lights on a ceiling 2: a helicopter turning 3: more green lights on a ceiling 4: a weapon rotating 5: someone moving from overhead 6: a different weapon rotating 7: green liquid 8: a gun being reloaded 9: more green liquid

END ID]

You are the most based stimboard maker ever wtf. could you possibly do an adrian shephard stimboard w/ radioactive themes, reload animations from hl / more specifically opfor, & perhaps half life aircraft/whatever else you wanna toss in? (@pilotautism)

yes i COULD do that

THANK YOU i love making stimboards this shit is so fun.

all gifs were made BY ME !! if anyone wants to use these just make sure to credit

[libra-araelty]

Hello!

My name is Neo. I am a neurodivergent young adult from the United States.

Neurodivergent, you say?

Yes! Neurodivergent means my brain does not function the same way that a typical human does. However that does not stop me from living a normal, everyday life just like everyone else!

I have Asperger’s Syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder (MaDD), and Dyscalculia, all diagnosed. It is also highly suspected that i have Bipolar Disorder and Trichotillomania (TTM), suggested to me by people who have either condition.

Being subject to these conditions, I have quite a few struggles in my daily life. I have sensory issues, so things like uncomfortable clothes and strong scents can make it so I’m unable to function at full capacity. If these sensory issues are pushed further and further, I am at risk of going into a sensory overload or a meltdown. That only happens very rarely for me, though.

My attention span is very flaky, and I have a difficult time staying on one topic for long periods of time. I need constant changing stimuli for me to not burn out while on a task. This ironically contributes to hyperfixation, an intense focus on one particular thing for a period of time. I know, that seems like the opposite of what I said before, but they are linked. See, hyperfixation isn’t exactly something that can be forced. When hyperfocusing, I may not be able to take myself out of that particular focus, and it consumes all my thoughts for however long my brain decides to hyperfixate on it. This contributes to my flaky attention span because instead of being able to force myself to focus on something im supposed to be doing, instead the brain goes “no, you’re going to think about this one thing and we’re going to make it very hard for you to focus on anything BUT this one thing. Special Interests (SI’s) follow a similar, yet more intense pattern. SI’s last much longer, if not lifelong for me. Theyre more prominent and effective on my life than my hyperfixations.

This is where MaDD comes into play. MaDD is a condition that can be adopted and unlearned. The DSM doesn’t recognize it as an official disorder, but it is a condition that exists in many people, especially people with attention or anxiety related contitions. MaDD shares a lot of traits with cases of addiction too, however this one is much easier to take control of and is not exactly harmful. The first word, maladaptive, can be broken in half: Mal and Adaptive. Mal means bad or poor, and adaptive means the ability to adapt. Maladaptive Daydreaming basically means daydreaming that causes poor adaptation skills. MaDDers are typically those who have conditions like Autism, AD(H)D, OCD, General Anxiety, and Dyslexia. Most people adopt the technique of Maladaptive Daydreaming in their childhood or early teens and if not caught early on, can last their entire lives. However, MaDD isn’t essentially a harmful thing. Like I said, it’s easily controlled. You may be asking, “what exactly is it about MaDD that causes poor adaptation? its just daydreaming.” MaDDers daydream at an average of 6 hours minimum a day. These daydreams are intense and easily triggered by everyday things like music, art, friends, even normal emotional events. MaDDers tend to use these dreams as an escape from reality but also a reality of their own, like a lucid dream but for your waking self. The daydreams tend to have intricately woven worlds, stories, chracters, and plots, all feeling just as real to the dreamer as the rest of life itself. MaDDers tend to daydream to escape real situations they may not want to be a part of and sometimes even cancel plans just to continue to daydream.

Why are you telling me all of this? This all seems so personal and insignificant to me.

This is FAR from insignificant to anyone. You may not be Autistic or a MaDDer or even neurodivergent, but I know that as a human being you still have lots of struggles, just like me. Ive told you all about my struggles and you’re probably thinking “wow how pathetic, they cant control their own brain.” Yeah actually, I can. Even if you weren’t thinking that, (which I actually highly doubt anyone was thinking that I just wanted to put an example of worst case scenario) what if I told you that no matter what, no matter who you were or what you were going through, you can still grab hold of yourself and make your life yours? You better believe it, because despite all the conditions I just told you I have, I have taught myself to make my own path in life and not let my struggles decide what my fate is. I believe anything is possible with a little patience and elbow grease, so thats why I have made this blog. It is sorta a combination of a journal, an advice blog, and an inspirational quote blog. I want to be able to share my knowledge of my identity and experiences in order to hopefully inspire someone to get up out of the hole theyre stuck in and make their life their own again! I love the conditions I have, and I use their benefits as my superpowers and dont let the negative aspects of them hold me back. They are a part of me and who I am and I will treat them with just as much love and care as I should treat myself, and hopefully you can treat yourself with the same amount of love too <3

With love,

Neo

P.S.

Heres a couple more fun facts about me!

My biggest special interests are Homestuck, Dragons, and literally just identity in general and have been special to me for almost 5 years now

I love music and my favorite artists are Imagine Dragons, Fall Out Boy, OneRepublic, Vance Joy, hi i’m Case, Of Monsters and Men, and Watsky!

I love to draw and play D&D! I love the character creation and I’m currently working on my own campaign

My personality labels are Sun Libra, Moon Sagittarius, Rising Taurus, INTP-T, 5w4, 541, Ravenclaw, Thunderbird, Seer of Heart, Dersian, True Neutral, Blue-Green Paladin, Firebender, and Skywing Elf

If I were a D&D character I’d be a true neutral forest gnome sorcerer sage who wields a katana and raises dragons

My favorite movies are How To Train Your Dragon (1&2), It, Star Wars, and Pete’s Dragon (2016). My favorite shows are The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Dragon Prince, Camp Camp, Gravity Falls, Twelve Forever and The Mandalorian

I love making aesthetics and stimboards, my favorite colors are blue violet, cornflower, sapphire, teal, spring green, and bubblegum pink. I love pastel kawaii fashion because of these colors

I either want to become a cartoonist or a counselor as a career, or both and be able to use one to help the other

[multiedits]

could i see a list of requests that you have?

(Inbox: 31)

— Guzma (Pokemon) wallpapers

— Charlie (Hazbin Hotel) wallpapers

— Jim Kirk (Star Trek) sunflowers and yellow themed icons

— Dirk Strider (Homestuck) insta board

— Melone (JoJo's Bizarre) scenecore icons

— Fred Rover (Webkinz) Moodboard with light green, yellow colors and themes of positivity and trying your best

— Larry Trainor (Doom Patrol) icons with trans and gay vintage flags by whimsy-flags

— Ty Lee (Avatar) header with circus and red

— Xefros Tritoh (Hiveswap) Moodboard with themes of food, video games, and missing Dammek

— Rose Quartz (Steven Universe) who wasn't Pink Diamond and season 1 vibes insta board

— Sableye (Pokemon) Wallpapers 854x960 with overcast skies-blue and gold lights and bokeh effects

— Beatrix LeBau and Phospor Slime (Slime Rancher) icons

— Sonic x Silver x Shadow (Sonic the Hedgehog) Moodboard with colors pastels red, blue, green

— Lo-Fi aesthetic Moodboard

— Cherri Bomb (Hazbin Hotel) wallpapers with junk food and happy, lazy days vibes

— Snake Rattler (LEGO City Adventures) Stimboard with fursuit, soap themes and colors black, orange, green

— PuppyCat (Bee and PuppyCat) and CatBug (Bravest Warriors) Moodboard with themes of cats, soft and pixel nights

— Garu (Pucca) black and red icons

— Paht Rohl (Ace Attorney) Stimboard with soft blankets, squishies, stuffed animals and blue

— Alyx Vance (Half-Life) icons with lesbian and #e89938 color

— Hourglass and Acephalous (FNaTI) Neon green and Orange icons

— Jibanyan (Yo-Kai Watch) pride flag with blue and orange

— Paintbrush (Inanimate Insanity) icons

— Tsumuri (Poison Bugs) Moodboard

— Tim/Masky (Marble Hornets) icons with autumn themes

— Sally Fisher x Larry Johnson (Sally Face) blue and brown colors and like teenage stupid fun stuff Moodboard

— Rita Aurelia (Untimely Clockwork) pride flag

— Darkiplier (Markiplier) insta board

— Malachite (Steven Universe) pride flag

— Yes Man (Fallout) insta board

[thelaughinglamb]

1. Shadow Work Series—Dealing With Powerful Emotions

Shadow Work is commonly understood as the unearthing of beliefs, desires and fears that hide within the sphere of our own subconscious mind. It is as esoteric or as secular as one may choose it to be. While some use divinatory tools, others do not. Witches or people who identify as pagan may choose to use magic and ritual to evoke powerful images. Ecstatic dance or altered states of consciousness can (when practiced safely) help to achieve a more open frame of mind, but to do so is not necessary. All that is needed a journal, a pen and a willingness to work.

For as many books published and blogs written on the subject, I find that dredging up uncomfortable and often disquieting aspects of ourselves is not easy. Many of us engage in such work without a necessary understanding on how to frame the emotions it can sometimes evoke, largely because we’ve never learned how. We struggle with overwhelming emotions and seek out shadow work for self-understanding, but when confronted with deeper trauma we may be hit with the reality that knowing isn’t always enough.

That being said, for my own benefit and the benefit of others, I’ve decided to undertake a series exploring my own quasi-esoteric practices in the pursuit of self understanding and share how I’ve applied dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and other therapeutic practices to help frame the feelings that arise around shadow work. Much of what I share will come from texts written by actual therapists, whose books are available to be applied in and out of session.

Note: If you are currently attending therapy sessions or already have a pre-existing relationship with a licensed professional, I advise you to chat about whether or not these strategies are for you. 

For those of you that don’t know what shadow work is, the link on the very first mention of the word shadow work should lead back to a very potent masterpost done by @unmaskingthedivine, with everything you need to get started.

Now, let’s get into it and see what we’ve got.

1. Self Soothing Strategies—Shadow Work & Distress Tolerance

So for this three part post, we’re going to look at three different ways we can deal with stressful emotional responses as they arise in our shadow work using a combination of dialectical behavioral therapy and personal insight. We can start out by employing what are called “self-soothing techniques.”

Whenever the overwhelming flood of emotions come during any given shadow work session and you no longer feel stable, cease all shadow working activity. Do not resume until you've taken a break. Remember that shadow work is an exploration of the subjective!  Whatever you find will be influenced by how you are feeling. Furthermore, your wellbeing is what’s most important. Begin by self-soothing, first by putting the pen and paper down and distracting yourself. Avoidance is unhealthy, but believe it or not, distraction in the temporary sense is your greatest ally. Here are some suggestions:

a. Distract with pleasurable activity, taking a walk, engaging in a hobby that occupies the hands such as knitting, watercolor painting or playing an instrument. Dance. Absorb yourself in a book or video game for a measured period of time. Find something that draws your attention away from the feelings for at least half an hour, or as long as it takes for you to feel stable.

b. Soothe by engaging your five senses. Listen to calming music such as Marconi Union, lo-fi hip hop or soft, ambient tunes. Put Rainy Mood on in the background if you’re mellowed by the sound of rain. Chew gum if you enjoy the taste. Treat yourself to a food that you’re permitted to eat that you also enjoy. You can also use this as a distraction technique, if you find cooking pleasurable! Relax your eyes by scrolling through stimboards, like the ones done by @prideslime and @clearslime. Watch an episode of a low-stress television show you enjoy. If you have a pet, bond with them through touch (if they like that sort of thing) and if you have a pillow, give it a comforting squeeze. Take a shower at the temperature you prefer. If you like particular textures, try using a worry stone or a velvet cloth by keeping it in your pocket! Go to a bakery just for the smell. Try burning a scented candle. Cut out perfume cards from magazines.

c. Distract yourself with counting and breathing techniques. Count both the inhalation and the exhalation of each breath backwards from ten, focusing on the sensation of the air as it passes through your lips. Do this as many times as necessary. Count or solve math problems. Focus on things like word puzzles, sudoku or brain-teaser / neuroplasticity apps. Try things like Viridi.

2. Radical Acceptance: Seeing Things For What They Are

One of the most difficult parts of dealing with overwhelming emotions are our own innate reactions to them. Our automatic response is to repress, subdue or lash out against our natural disposition toward feeling. However in shadow work, feelings are essential. Emotions are often the signposts that help us interpret what it is that we’ve found. Radical acceptance does a lot to help us then, to not only accept our feelings but later use them to empower positive change.

So in order to change things about ourselves and throughout life in general, we must first accept them uncritically and as they are. That does not mean we have to approve of them! Once we’ve found something in ourselves we might not necessarily like or know what to do with, instead of immediately making up our minds, we can practice acceptance instead.

If we discover aspects of the shadow that we dislike or find painful, we can say the following:

Every choice both I and others have made have led to this moment. 

I cannot affect what has already happened.

The present is all I can control. I am the only one who can change things.

Fighting the past only blinds me to the present.

What I discovered is what should be, given all that’s happened before.

I am the agent of my own rescue. I do not need to rewrite what’s happened to me.

Try practicing these things not only in shadow work, but also in every day life and you’ll be amazed. Once you’ve accepted any given situation, solutions begin to follow. “What is” becomes within your control; you become the arbiter of your own destiny.

3. Emotional Signposts: What Do They Mean?

After you feel adequately soothed, relaxed and in control of the present, you’re able to revisit what you’ve found. One of my favorite comics by @elodieunderglass​ talks about the emotional recognition, a concept I learned from an old acquaintance of mine. Emotions are actually our guide. Through learning more about emotional responses, we learn about ourselves. Sometimes when we assume we understand the impetus for an emotional response right away, we do ourselves a disservice. After the shadow work session, we can look at the material we journaled about within the framework of the emotional response we had and determine whether or not our findings were indicative of something more. 

Did that feeling of hopelessness overtake us because we are objectively helpless, or was it due to a history of having our autonomy obstructed or taken away? Did our feelings of shame indicate that the quality or characteristic we found in ourselves was unacceptable, or did it perhaps indicate a discomfort with our own identity thanks to feedback by our families and friends? Were we angry because we truly wished to lash out in violence or is was it because we were masking a deeper, more vulnerable emotion and using our anger to regain control?

As we reflect on our shadow work within the frame of our own emotions, we stand to gain more from it. The more we become accustomed to our feelings and to coping with them, the less we behave in ways that are potentially destructive, avoidant or afraid. This way, the quality of our life may begin to improve in unexpected ways!

It’s my hope that this was of some help to you, if you’ve made it this far. It’s a pleasure to share my findings with you and my hope they help yield insight that help you to find some peace of mind. I’ll include references below!

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay, Jeffrey C. Wood and Jeffrey Brantley

The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden

[hyperioncorps]

HALF LIFE 2 VR BUT THE AI IS SELF AWARE ⟡ trailer : link back for edits & stimboards : part 1 / 2 / 3