Through our recent educational focus, we have learned that there are 12 archetypes at work for any individual. Within those 12, there are 4 that are necessary to our survival that we all share: The Child, the Prostitute, the Saboteur, and the Victim. Sound odd, even controversial? Maybe - until you dig deeper to understand how they can be serving you – or not. For this conversation, let me illustrate how the Victim is at work in our lives.
Like all archetypes, there is a strength and benefit to the victim as well as a shadow side, which, when engaged, drains us of our power.
When your awareness of the victim is properly engaged, you are able to recognize potential situations where you could be victimized, therefore not putting yourself in a place or mindset to allow this to happen. Also through this awareness, you recognize when you might actually be on the path to victimizing someone else for your own personal gain. In these cases, your victim archetype is contributing to a healthy self and healthy relationship with others
But what happens when the shadow side of the victim is allowed to run rampant in one’s life? Do any of these sound familiar?
-Placing blame on others or circumstances.
-Stuck – can’t move forward. Often wallowing in self-pity.
-Feeling more powerless than powerful.
-When around someone who is playing the victim, it can drain your energy too!
What could we possibility be getting out giving in to the shadow side of the victim?
Sympathy, attention, avoidance of responsibility, avoidance of action.
How can we move out of the shadow victim conversation? Take responsibility for all that has happened. Now, you may say that’s really not totally true – and it may not be. But is staying where we are serving us? No. And until we accept responsibility, we cannot take back our power we have given away by passing the blame. It doesn’t really matter who is right or wrong. What matters is we see our own accountability – and in that reclaim the power to make something happen. We are meant to learn how to handle challenges and face our fears!
