What does it mean to be authentic?

Authenticity III. Anima and Animus, according to Carl Jung.

Reviewed by Andrea Amaral

In our last article, we explored the Shadow—the parts of ourselves we’ve learned to hide, reject, or disown. These aren’t just traits we’re ashamed of, but also qualities that once felt unsafe to express: our sensitivity, anger, spontaneity, or need for connection. By beginning to face the Shadow, we take one of the most honest steps on the path to becoming whole.

Do you remember how, in the article about the Persona, we talked about Jung’s belief that true authenticity comes from a deeper psychological process called individuation? As a reminder, individuation is the ongoing path of becoming whole by integrating the different, sometimes opposing, aspects of our psyche. So, we’ve already looked at the Persona (the roles we perform) and the Shadow (what we hide). The next step in this process invites us to turn toward a more subtle, often misunderstood part of ourselves: the Anima and Animus.