Written by: Mikayla Coleman
First developed by psychoanalyst Carl Jung, shadow work is described by medicalnewstoday.com as a type of therapy that focuses on the shadow self — a hidden or repressed part of the psyche. The goal of shadow work is to combine the shadow self and the present psyche of a person so that repressed impulses can be managed in a healthy way.
Listed below are a variety of shadow work journal prompts curated to encourage one to better connect with themselves, explore the depths of their history and become more aware of their unconscious mind.
- What do you need more of in your life?
- When are you hardest on yourself? Where do you think this stems from?
- What do you consider yourself to be morally passionate about? Why?
- How do you typically react when you are angry? Is this similar to individuals who have been in your life since childhood?
- What negative emotions do you avoid? Why?
- How do you want people to feel around you?
- What are you most passionate about?
- What drains you? What excites you?
- What are your priorities?
- If you could write a letter to a person who hurt you, what would you say?
- When did you recognize your parents/guardians are not perfect?
- How much do you think you rely on external validation? How do you feel you could improve with this?
- What do you know today that you did not know about this time last year?
- What was your favorite activity as a child? Do you still participate in it?
- What things are you looking forward to in your lifetime?
- What are qualities and traits in others that you admire?
- What does being confident look like? What does it feel like?
- How do you show compassion to others? How can you extend that same compassion to yourself?
- What emotions do you find hardest to accept? How do you handle these emotions?
- How do you handle change? Why do you think that is?
- How would you define your personal spirituality?
Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu
