A Mini-Guide To Shadow Work

What is shadow work?

“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”

— Dr. Carl Jung

Shadow work is a practice of understanding your deeper self. Within the exercise, you discover and tend to the parts of you that have been suppressed. It can be uncomfortable, but it is also enlightening.

This is a significant step in your journey.

You have to learn to love and accept every part of yourself.

Shadow work helps you gain access to what is hidden. Pieces of you are unsurfaced and now you’re aware of all that makes up you. You can accept things the way they are or work on what you feel you need to work.

Nonetheless, the purpose is to become the person you want to be and not who you are told to be.

What is the shadow?

The shadow is you.

It was formed through experiences that have shaped you into who you appear to be today. Growing up, we are told what is wrong with us. We are told what is and isn't acceptable in the world. Traumatic events stick with us and our mind has been shaped before we are even aware of it.

The shadow is filled with everything you don’t want to think about, but it’s not all bad. Your shadow holds key information to become aware of who you really are. Its pieces of you that you were

told weren't acceptable to present to the world and

pieces that express themself in negative ways.

“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it is better to listen to what it has to say.”

— Paulo Coehlo

How does the shadow affect you?

Your subconscious stores everything your conscious mind can’t. It is in charge of every thought that has ever been too painful to think of and more. This is where your shadow was formed and created a life for itself.

Its life source comes directly from you— the more you suppress it and the more things you push down, the bigger it grows and the more harm it can do. It can manifest itself through:

Projection

Projection involves someone displacing their emotions onto others. They are typically negative feelings and insecurities one feels about themselves. It’s a way for the shadow to show itself and get attention. It is also a means for your mind to go on autopilot. You become unaware of your feelings and start placing the blame on others. It can be detrimental to your health and relationships.

You have to deal with your real emotions

Bad Habits

These are repeating behaviors that make you feel out of control. They don't represent who you truly are. Many times they’re learned behaviors from adults or peers you watched growing up. They can negatively impact your relationships and health. These habits can be vices used to distract you from what's important and what you want to be focused on in life.

Triggers

A trigger can put you back in an unpleasant and uncomfortable state of mind. These are occurrences that cause our minds to revert to a traumatic experience. It is actually your shadow self seeking attention. When you acknowledge and accept your shadow, you can better deal with these incidents.

Benefits of Shadow Work

• Improve self-confidence

• Build healthy relationships

• Improve mental health

• Emotional healing

• Enhance self-awareness

You have brought your mind to the present, now, the next step is to uncover your layers.

In doing so, you come to an understanding on how you operate. This can make life less frustrating in some aspects. You will be able to find solutions to your problems quickly and focus less on stressful elements.

You can gain knowledge on how to improve your life and health through understanding and acceptance. You can start actively creating the reality you want with this awareness.

To access the power within, you need to understand and appreciate yourself. Neglecting parts of you can be harmful to your mental health and how you function in life.

It can hurt the people you care about and have an impact on your future. Deal with what you need to deal with now so it won't continue to haunt you later.

How to get started?

Shadow work is filled with open-ended questions to get you thinking. Not everything will appear to you all at once. It's this thought process that will eventually lead you to an answer. That is why it is essential to be patient with yourself.

“The wound is not my fault. But the healing is my responsibility.”

— Marianne Williamson

Start here:

Your Childhood:

The shadow usually stems from childhood experiences. These moments shape your adult life. Think back to how your childhood was:

• What three words would you use to sum it up and why?

• Did you feel rejected by family and peers?

• How did you handle stressful moments?

• Did you get to express yourself freely?

• List a life-changing event or moment that changed your mind: How did it make you feel and why?

Your Relationships:

Reflect on your relationships from your parents to friends and partners. The shadow can reveal itself through how we interact with others:

• Do you feel you can be yourself when around other people? Why or Why not?

• Is there open communication?

• Do you set and respect boundaries?

• Is there someone you can go to for support?

• Do you trust others easily or not at all? Why or Why not?

How Do You View Life:

Your shadow can act out in many ways. It can alter the mind and change your perception. Sometimes how you view things can be a hint towards what's hiding within your shadow

• What about life do you enjoy? What do you dislike?

• How do you feel about getting older?

• What do you have a strong opinion on?

• What are your morals and values?

• How did you form these conclusions?

• How do you handle stress now?

Summary

There is great significance in doing shadow work. The connection you make with yourself is priceless. It is a beneficial way to unveil parts of you. These can reveal missing pieces to your life and give you insight.

This insight can help you gain control of your life. It can give you the tools and mindset you need to prepare for your future. As well as create the life you deserve. Put the work into yourself now and I promise you’ll be thanking yourself later.

“Choose to evolve. Choose love.”

— Creig Crippen

More prompts to get you thinking <3

Shadow Work Prompts.pdf

Download PDF • 1.89MB