Is it some aspect of yourself you’d rather not think about?
Well, congratulations, because you may have just found your shadow.
Within it lies some of the hardestbut most worthwhileinner work we can do as people.
The reason you reject these aspects of your personality goes back to your childhood.
When we’re young, we depend on our parents or main caregivers for survival.
As a result, we become very attached to them and their way of doing things.
That message becomes internalizedburied within your subconsciousand can therefore become a trigger for you for seemingly no reason.
Short answer: yes.
Shadow work can also fall under the umbrella of self-reflection, self-examination, etc.
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How To Identify Yours
So, how do you actuallydoshadow work?
As Caraballo and Swart explain, it’s all about bringing the unconscious mind to our conscious awareness.
It’s typically done with a “Socratic approach” of questioning and exploration.
Below, you’ll find some prompts to help you do so.
So while, yes, facing our shadow is hard work, it’s also incredibly freeing.
And according to Swart, shadow work is necessary for anyone who wants to become fulfilled and self-actualized.
So, keep an eye out.
Call on others for help
Again, shadow work is never easyespecially if you’vebeen through trauma.
“Often these images are areflection of parts of ourselvesthat we find unlikable.”
Confront your shadow
Another exercise involvesmeditatingon, and confronting, your own shadow.
After all, it was Jung who said, “There is no coming to consciousness without pain.”
