Recently, as I reflected on the whirlwind of last month and my 40th birthday, I went through a profound transformation. This journey reminded me how much the universe supports us, especially through the practice of shadow work.
What Is Shadow Work?
Carl Jung, a renowned psychologist, introduced the concept of shadow work. It’s the process of exploring the parts of ourselves we often ignore or repress—our inner shadows. These shadows form from our life experiences and can hold us back if we don’t confront them.
Engaging with our shadow isn’t about getting rid of these parts but integrating them. It’s about seeing the value they add to our whole selves. Shadow work reveals that these aspects are not just obstacles but valuable teachers.
Why Shadow Work Matters
In today’s world, where social media often shows only the best parts of life, we’re taught to hide our struggles and pain. We start to believe that feeling sad or angry means we’re not doing well.
But the truth is, facing and working through our inner darkness enhances our self-awareness and leads to true success. It helps us live more authentically and radiantly.
As I entered a new decade, I dove deep into shadow work, uncovering beliefs and patterns holding me back. This process was like undergoing a spiritual makeover, allowing me to step into my 40s empowered and aligned with my true self.
Life isn’t just about the good times. To experience its full depth, we must also engage with our shadows. This doesn’t just add complexity to our lives; it’s essential for genuine growth and wellbeing.
Facing our shadows requires bravery. It’s tempting to ignore pain, but confronting it head-on lets us understand ourselves better and live more harmoniously.
Benefits of Shadow Work
Shadow work can lead to:
- A deeper spiritual connection
- Authentic self-expression
- Creative breakthroughs
- Emotional liberation
- Stronger relationships
- Higher energy levels and better health
- Improved mood and wellbeing
- Clearer communication
- Personal boundaries
- Ending self-destructive cycles
How to do Shadow Work in your Life
- Journaling is a great way connect deeper to your shadows. This introspective process helps you self reflect and notice negative thoughts, behaviors and patterns, shining a light on where the work is needed. In this IGTV I share the journaling process I do and the benefits you can experience from it in more depth.
- Meditation is a great way to build self awareness, allowing you to see yourself objectively and face the shadows. The shadows are simply areas of ourselves that require growth and through seeing those areas objectively, we can take a more intentional and conscious approach to healing them versus stuffing them down without realizing.
- Breathwork is another amazing way to do shadow work. Through the process you can unearth toxicity and hardwiring that we don’t realize it preventing our ability to step fully into ourselves. It can also provide a cathartic release for us to process our shadows.
It’s so important to remember to be patient and compassionate with ourselves through the process. Doing shadow work can be painful and hard, but it’s through that work that we experience the spiritual growth and alchemy that we require to live out the most abundant and sparkly lives of our dreams.
