Where did we learn our shadow behavior?Īs a child grows into adulthood, he or she learns what behaviors are considered acceptable and unacceptable. When we fail to meet those expectations, we experience guilt or shame. We use the ego to act according to social norms. The shadow self is often associated with the ego-the part of ourselves that makes decisions, controls impulses, and acts in socially appropriate ways. You might even deny having those feelings altogether. He defined it as “the part of ourselves we are ashamed of.” In psychology, the shadow self refers to our personality’s darker, less acceptable aspects.įor example, you might feel guilty about being angry, greedy, jealous, or selfish. What is the “shadow” in shadow work?Ĭarl Jung coined the term shadow self in his book Psychological Types. It involves getting to know your shadow self and all the baggage that comes with it, such as repressed feelings, thoughts, and memories.ĭoing this helps jumpstart the healing process, particularly for people wrestling with past trauma. Put simply, shadow work is a type of personal development that allows you to dig deep into your subconscious mind and find any issues you may have.
People who are new to shadow work can get emotional since they haven’t come to terms with their other half. However, it’s not all smiles and good feelings. These bodily sensations typically mean that you’ve appeased the unconscious. Sometimes I’ll even get a feeling of ‘centeredness’ in the pit of my stomach. The purpose of these journal prompts is to stir your unconscious mind until you feel sensations in your body.įor example, when I do shadow work I get a nice feeling in my arms and legs. Shadow work journaling is a safe and very personal way of doing this. You want to start cultivating these shadow qualities in a safe and ritualized way in your waking life. Integrating the shadow, without biting off too much, is the real challenge. The shadow is the embodiment of potential that you’ve cast away and now need to integrate.Īdmitting you have an unconscious shadow is the first step to be able to “see” it voluntarily.
It’s the intentional process of admitting the parts of yourself you’ve ignored and repressed. Shadow Work is integrating the entire spectrum of your being. It’s the part of yourself that’s been rejected since childhood and you have no awareness of.
The shadow is the side of yourself that’s disconnected and unfelt. Which gives you a place to start with your self-inquiry.īefore I get more into shadow work journaling, it’s important that we cover a few key concepts: What is shadow and what is shadow work? Most people do this with the help of shadow work prompts. Shadow work journaling is an introspective exercise where you uncover the deepest truths about yourself.
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