They're afraid to embrace the parts of themselves that might be regarded as unacceptable,

他們害怕擁抱自己可能被認為是不可接受的部分，

because embracing these unacceptable parts makes them feel uncomfortable.

因為擁抱這些不可接受的部分使他們感到不舒服。

So to escape this uncomfortableness, they divide themselves into two halves: conscious and unconscious.

為了擺脫這種不舒服的感覺，他們把自己抽成兩部分：有意識的和無意識的。

In the conscious-half, they construct an ideal image of themselves:

在意識的一半中，他們為自己構建了一個理想的形象：

an image formed out of the bits and pieces of their past that they deem as good and acceptable.

這是由他們認為好的和可接受的過去的點滴所形成的形象。

And as result, in the unconscious-half, they repress the parts of themselves that they view as bad and unacceptable.

結果，在無意識的一半，他們壓制自己的部分，他們認為是壞的和不可接受的。

In Jungian psychology, this repressed part of the personality is called The Shadow.

在榮格心理學中，這種被壓抑的人格部分被稱為「影子」。

And unless The Shadow is integrated into the personality, a person can never reach their fullest potential.

除非 「影子」融入人格，否則一個人永遠無法達到他們的目標，最大的潛力。

Instead, one will always remain incomplete, fractured, and partial—living a life of regret rather than the full life that could have been.

相反，一個人將永遠保持不完整、支離破碎和局部的狀態，過著後悔而非充實的生活。

Imagine, for example, that I've solved a few equations and convinced myself that I'm a great mathematician.

想像一下，例如，我已經解決了一些方程式並讓自己相信我是一位優秀的數學家。

I might meet a few friends and they tell me that they have a math club.

我可能會遇到幾個朋友，他們告訴我，他們有一個數學俱樂部。

They gather every weekend and try to have a crack at math's most difficult problems.

他們每週末聚集在一起，試圖破解數學中最難的問題。

This scares me, because if I join, I'll no longer get to be the 'great mathematician' that I've convinced myself I am.

這讓我感到害怕，因為如果我加入了，我就不再能成為自己認為的「偉大的數學家 」了。

Instead, I'll be a concrete person with actual strengths and weaknesses.

相反，我將成為一個具體的人，擁有實際的優點和缺點。

And in this scenario, there are two possible actions I can take.

而在這種情況下，我可以採取兩種可能的行動。

The first action is to run from my shadow and let it grow.

第一個行動是逃離我的陰影，讓它成長。

I refuse to join the math club and realize my own weaknesses as a mathematician.

我拒絕加入數學俱樂部，並意識到我自己作為數學家的弱點。

I get to cling to the ideal image of myself as a great mathematician, but as a result, I lose the opportunity to actually become one.

我可以堅持自己作為一個偉大數學家的理想形象，但結果是。我失去了真正成為一個人的機會。

The second action is to come into contact with my shadow and integrate it.

第二個行動是與我的影子接觸並整合它。

I join the math club and realize that I'm not the great mathematician that I thought I was.

我加入了數學俱樂部，並意識到我並不是我想象中的偉大數學家。我是。

In the short term, this hurts.

在短期內，這很傷人。

I discover that I'm not very good at geometry, but also that I excel in differential equations.

我發現我對幾何學不是很在行，但也發現我擅長微分方程。

I become measured with my colleagues.

我對我的同事變得有分寸。

I have an actual place and rank among other mathematicians.

在其他數學家中，我有一個實際的位置和等級。

In reality, I realize I'm not the great mathematician I thought I was, but now I open up the possibility of actually becoming one.

在現實中，我意識到我不是我所認為的偉大數學家，但現在我開了真正成為一個人的可能性。

I can actually improve my skills and rank.

我實際上可以提高我的技能和等級。

In the long run, this ends up being the best decision I've ever made.

從長遠來看，這最終是我做過的最好的決定。

See, in a way, we often prefer to be pure potential.

在某種程度上，我們往往更願意成為純粹的潛力。

We convince ourselves we could be whatever we wanna be, but don't actively work to actually be something.

我們讓自己相信我們可以成為任何我們想成為的人，但卻不積極努力實際成為某個人。

We just comfort ourselves with the idea that we could be something if we wanted to.

我們只是安慰自己，如果我們願意，我們可以成為什麼。

This is because when we work towards something, we start feeling our weight in the world.

這是因為當我們為某些事情努力時，我們開始感覺到自己在這個世界上的分量。

We're measured and ranked.

我們被衡量和排名。

We're quantified and actual.

我們是量化的、實際的。

And this actual reality is often less pleasurable to live in than our ideal fantasy.

而這種實際的現實往往不如我們的理想幻想來得痛快。

But it's real, not a fantasy.

但這是真實的，不是幻想。

And reality can be improved, but a life of fantasy always ends in tragedy.

而現實是可以改善的，但幻想的生活總是以悲劇收場。

The path to self-improvement starts with self-acceptance.

自我完善的道路從自我接受開始。

Only by embracing and integrating our shadow, by accepting the ugly parts of ourselves,

只有通過擁抱和整合我們的陰影，通過接受我們自己的醜陋部分。

by becoming who we're afraid to be, can we reach our fullest potential.

通過成為我們害怕成為的人，我們才能發揮我們最大的潛力。

But if we reject our shadow, if we pick and choose the parts of our past, personality,

但是，如果我們拒絕我們的影子，如果我們對我們的過去、人格的部分進行挑選。

and behaviour that we like and repress the parts of ourselves we fear, we become incomplete and partial.

和我們喜歡的行為，並壓制我們害怕的部分，我們會變得不完整和部分。

And instead of living a full, whole life, we live one full of regrets.

而我們不是活得充實、完整，而是活得充滿了遺憾。

But it's up to you to decide: in Jungian terms, will you embrace your shadow or reject it?

但這取決於你的決定：用榮格的術語來說，你是擁抱你的影子還是拒絕它？

Would you rather fail in actuality or succeed in mere hypotheticals?

你願意在現實中失敗還是在單純的假設中成功？