I found the definition to this word through Google dictionary, and it is as follows: to be a tower above and then cast a shadow over something or in other terms someone who appears much more prominent or important then another. With these definitions these sentences are how the word would be used. As a towering object such as an enormous oak tree stands overshadowing the cottage near it or an individual’s competitive nature often overshadows the other qualities they forget are there.
Ever wonder if you feel you need to do so much to prove yourself because you feel you are being overshadowed by another by may be yourself? Is this a bad thing and feeling or positive because it means we are pushing ourselves to be better to get out of that shadow. Then considering this we may be pushing ourselves but then we could be pushing ourselves too much forgetting the really meaning and reason for it. Then if we do so much but then no one sees it or acknowledges does it still matter, I mean it should to you at least. We can feel we do so much and are doing so much but it goes unrecognizable because we are still in those shadows of others. Others that come before being greater, others from family and friends you just associate with, others we may look up to and while following in their footsteps lose our own. We are supposed to do things without wanting that recognition and to be just happy for and by ourselves but is it so wrong to want someone to be proud of us at the same time and tell you?
I will admit I love that second sentence with the usage of this word at the beginning of this post. A person themselves can be so caught up in one attribute or one event which can lead to this one thing overshadowing other talents and attributes. The other aspects that want to be shown and shine through. Can we fully be ourselves and 100% authentic if this overshadowing is occurring? And if this is happening, how can we recognize it and work on it?
Maybe you are from a family with a line of engineers or teachers or preachers and now you in that line to do the same thing, so you must choose to stay in the shadow of lineage or forge your own path. A name that chases you everywhere with its positive yet negative connection that you are constantly held under. Hidden in someone else’s shadow without even realizing it, and without others even realizing they are putting you there because one outshines the others in separate ways but seems that one is more important than the other just because of what they say and do overpower and shadows you.
This one word can create such a dilemma and mean so much.
Overshadowing means so many things to me. There have been many times I have felt overshadowed in my life. I usually blame others because of it but in the end all I should really do is blame myself. I allow it to be there to begin with and even if I have no control over it I allow it to manifest within me and let it affect me and my attitude. I have been recognizing it, recognizing I overshadow myself by only focusing on one thing I believe to be important and forget to let other skills and interest shine. Time does wonders and all we can do is be aware and work from there.
I am curious though,
Do you ever feel overshadowed?
Or are you the one doing the overshadowing?
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