Step into the Dark Side: Shadow Work

Everyone around you, from your annoying coworker to your sweet neighbor, has a dark side. Commonly referred to as the “shadow” by experts, tapping into and accepting this repressed side of yourself can be vital to your personal development.

STORY: Chloe Hong PHOTO: Gianna Horvath DESIGN: Emma Rowell

Everyone around you, from your annoying coworker to your sweet neighbor, has a dark side. Tapping into and accepting this repressed side of yourself, commonly referred to as the shadow, can be vital to your personal development.

Coined by psychologist Carl Jung, “shadow self” refers to aspects of ourselves that we choose to repress — often due to guilt or shame.

However, these parts of ourselves aren’t necessarily evil or harmful as the term might insinuate.

Shadow work is a psychological practice where you try to get in touch with your shadow. However, shadow work can be incredibly difficult and painful. If you have suffered through immense pain and trauma, consulting a therapist or expert to safely guide you through the process is advised.

Here are three shadow work exercises to help you lead a more authentic life.

Journal your thoughts and feelings

Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you understand your subconscious mind. You may begin to notice emotional or behavioral patterns, allowing you to move through life with enhanced awareness.

Think about people that bother you.

Thoroughly examine what bothers you about these people and why. When we aren’t in touch with our shadow selves, we’re prone to projection. Often what we dislike in others, we dislike in ourselves. Jung put it best when he said, “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” Meditation.

Use meditation to focus on difficult emotions, negative thought patterns, unresolved fears and more. By acknowledging these parts of yourself without judgment, you’re better able to bring these hidden parts of yourself into consciousness.

Ignoring a problem is a temporary solution. Only through facing our problems head-on can we make progress towards healing and peace.

By embracing both the light and dark parts of ourselves, we can learn to embrace all parts of ourselves. Shadow work can help people become more fulfilled, complete and balanced.

Additionally, if you’re interested in learning more about shadow work, @elevatedbyem on TikTok has shared multiple shadow work prompts that can help you get started.

TU SK