What Is Shadow Work, Exactly?

Is there a side of you that you suppress during certain social situations? Or maybe one you don't even know you hide? That’s your shadow. Shadow work is uncovering the hidden parts of your psyche to understand yourself more, heal from old wounds, and improve relationships.
The Practice of Shadow Work
The first step of practicing shadow work is to decide whether you want the help of a therapist. Getting the guidance of a mental health professional can be incredibly beneficial in ensuring your shadow work journey is meaningful.
Shadow Work Goals
The goals of shadow work include the following:
Increase self-awareness by recognizing and accepting the parts of ourselves that have been ignored, repressed, or denied
Integrate the shadow into consciousness to create a more complete and balanced self
Heal psychological wounds and resolve internal conflicts
Personally grow and enhance creativity and authenticity
"The goal of shadow work is to bring personal growth by recognizing and integrating the parts of ourselves we have neglected or suppressed," adds Shaheen.
Common Challenges in Shadow Work
Hughes shares that the first step in shadow work is to acknowledge the parts of ourselves we feel detached from or are rejecting. This can bring up discomfort, fear, or resistance since they are the parts of ourselves that come out when we feel hurt or triggered.
Dealing with uncomfortable emotions can be a challenging aspect of shadow work.
“I often see clients judge or reject shadow parts of themselves. It can be challenging to see a part of your personality you do not like or agree with. It can also be difficult to uncover our own unconscious traits from an unbiased point of view when engaging in shadow work on our own,”#ShadowWork #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealth #HealingJourney #InnerChild #EmotionalHealing #SelfDiscovery #Authenticity #PsychologicalHealing #Mindfulness #TherapyJourney #EmbraceYourShadow #InnerStrength #SelfAcceptance #CreativeExpression #BalanceYourself #UncoverYourself #TransformYourLife #EmotionalIntelligence