The Basic Meaning of “Turn Your Face Toward the Sun and the Shadows Will Fall Behind You.”
Turning your face toward the sun implies that you should be looking forward with a cheerful outlook, a positive attitude.
Naturally, when you’re facing the sun, your shadow is behind you. This part of the quote suggests that negative things in life will remain in the past.
There Are Multiple Interpretations to This Old Proverb.
Depending on what’s happening in your life or what your general outlook is, this statement will have a more detailed individual meaning to you.
For example …
You could be leaving the past in the past for no reason other than you live for the here and now.
It doesn’t matter whether the experiences in your past were good or bad, it’s only the passage of time.
You’re not afraid of the future. You take things day by day. You live in the moment and take things as they come.
You just keep your face to the sun and enjoy.
Another way of looking at it …
You could be leaving any traumas, abuse, and pain in the past.
You are not feeling the need to look back over your shoulder anymore. You feel like you can now move forward towards a safer, brighter future.
The warmth and light of the sun is drawing you forward.
It could also mean …
You’re changing and growing as person. You are choosing a new path for yourself.
Whether it be a new job, or education, or moving to a new city.
It could be growing a self-awareness and choosing to open your mind to a new way of thinking.
Maybe it’s starting a new exercise routine to get into shape.
Maintaining a positive mindset will help you to accomplish these types of things.
The idea of not changing, growing, or accomplishing your goal is your motivation, that’s the shadow behind you.
What Does the Shadow Represent?
Just like your shadow always follows you, so do the lessons you’ve learned in life.
However, you can only see the bright sun ahead of you if you bring the lessons you have learned along the way.
Our shadow will always be there. It is a form of ourselves, our silhouette, our likeness. You cannot run or hide from it. It is connected to you.
In a sense, our shadow is a gift from the light.
It reminds us that we’re alive, we’re real, we matter, and we are not invisible.
It humbles us and reminds us to always keep growing, learning, and moving forward with a positive attitude.
Without our shadow, we would be in the dark.
References
- quoteresearch. “Keep Your Face Always Towards the Sunshine, and the Shadows Will Fall Behind You – Quote Investigator®.” Quote Investigator® – Tracing Quotations, Quote Investigator, 5 Mar. 2019, https://tinyurl.com/3x8jh23m Keep Your Face Always Towards the Sunshine, and the Shadows Will Fall Behind You
