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