Journaling is magical, knowing your true calling and having a deep sense of who you are is also magical. Which is why you need 25 Shadow Work journal prompts to discover your true self. After all, how can you follow your North Star if you haven’t even worked out your values?
Finding your true self by journaling with these shadow work prompts
“I Don’t Even Know Who I Am Anymore!”
I hear you. Parenthood (or life I guess) can leave you feeling lost and without direction. Shadow work can help you get back to your sense of self, or find it for the first time. Knowing what are the right questions to ask is the trick. Which is why you’re here, right? Looking for journal prompts specifically to help you find your true self.
Thinking about it, once you know your self then you can start making sure you’re living in alignment with your true values. After all, you can’t make positive changes if you don’t know what direction you’re headed in. Even if you start with small changes to make time for your passions, you’ll be happier and more fulfilled in your daily life.
I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with what the heck shadow work even is!
Shadow work is looking through a little window into your subconscious
Shadow work requires you to use your inner strength to work through what holds you back. Self discovery is amazing and finding a way to accept all parts of yourself will be liberating, but it’s not going to be easy. Shadow work unearths the bits of ourselves that we’ve pushed down, rejected and ignored. These parts of your character have been hidden by you as a way to fit in, or you learned that those traits aren’t rewarded by your family, friends or society.
Shadow work is supposed to be uncomfortable, you’re learning to accept the pieces of you that you, so far, have suppressed in one way or another. That being said, I would recommend that you seek out therapy of some kind. Especially if you’re dealing with past traumas that you’re not sure how to deal with, or if you’re seeking destructive ways to cope with your emotions.
All in all, embarking on your shadow work journey with these prompts to find your true self is a huge and exciting step in your own self discovery. But, as with most things you find on the internet, it’s not a replacement for talking things through with a licensed therapist.
If you feel this is a little heavy for now, don’t sweat it! I’ve got you covered ✿ Pin this post for later and try these posts instead:
- Am I an Empath? How to protect your energy
- 5 tips to raise your vibes as a Mum
- Self Care: a quick guide for busy Mums
- How to be a happier Mum: 5 ways to unlock a healthier mindset
- Struggling with Mum guilt? Here’s 8 ways to deal with it!
Signs you need these shadow work journal prompts
You’re going through the same cycles over and over in your relationships
When we’re not being our truest self, we can find ourselves with partners and friends that don’t align with or even support our values. If you’re repeating the same cycles with rocky relationships, hot and cold friendships or familial problems then it may be that you need to evaluate what you actually want from the people in your life.
Answering questions about what parts of you that you suppress or why you’re seeking approval from others can help you break the cycle.
You’re using destructive or avoidance mechanisms to cope with your life
From addiction to overeating, from excessive spending to endless hours of video gaming; these can all be signs that you’re not living in alignment with your true self. When we find ways to escape and numb our emotions, what we’re actually doing is pushing away the feelings that we aren’t prepared to face.
So, ask yourself the tough questions about what you really want to be doing with your life and what is it that truly holds you back will help you take positive steps toward your North Star.
You have a lack of direction
I’ll use the obvious one. You were praised as a child for your creative talents, be it dance, theatre, art, music (the list goes on…). Then around age 15, sometimes earlier sometimes later, you’re told:
“It’s not a sensible career option”
“There’s no money in it”
“You have to be the best ever to make it big”
“You won’t have job security”.
Buzzkill right? So you knuckle down, get your *insert prestigious subject* degree, get a job and grind your way from post to post to advance your career. Or you float aimlessly from job to job, feeling like something better was supposed to happen. Either way, you’re missing that spark.
In this case, ask yourself questions about what truly gets you into that flow state? What do you talk about passionately regardless of what society says is acceptable?
25 Shadow Work Journal Prompts To Discover Your True Self
So, are you ready to go down this road? Remember why you’re here: you want to be in alignment with your truest self, to find your North Star and accept all parts of you.
You’re a beautiful soul, shadow and all ♡
- What aspects of myself do I hide or suppress in social situations?
- Are there any recurring patterns in my relationships that cause me discomfort or pain?
- What is one fear or insecurity that has held me back from pursuing my dreams or goals?
- Are there any past experiences or traumas that still have a significant impact on my emotions and behaviour today?
- What negative self-talk or limiting beliefs do I often engage in? How do they affect my actions and decisions? (Give some examples when you’ve limited yourself)
- What are some qualities or characteristics in others that trigger a strong negative reaction within me? Why do they trigger me?
- What are the shadow aspects or “dark” emotions that I struggle to accept or acknowledge within myself, such as anger, jealousy, or shame?
- Are there any parts of myself that I judge or criticise harshly? How can I cultivate self-compassion for those aspects?
- What external validation or approval do I seek, and why is it important to me? How does it impact my self-worth?
- What are my deepest desires or dreams that I have neglected or ignored? What steps can I take to honour and pursue them?
- How do I self-sabotage or undermine my own success or happiness? What underlying fears or beliefs contribute to this behaviour?
- What childhood experiences or conditioning have shaped my beliefs about love, relationships, and self-worth?
- Are there any parts of myself that I have disowned or rejected? How can I reintegrate and embrace them?
- What role do expectations, either self-imposed or from others, play in my life? How do they influence my choices and actions?
- What are some unhealthy coping mechanisms or habits I engage in to avoid facing my emotions or fears?
- Do I have any unresolved conflicts or unresolved relationships that still affect me emotionally? How can I find closure or healing?
- How does the concept of forgiveness resonate with me? Are there any individuals or situations that I need to forgive to find inner peace?
- What are the values and beliefs that I hold most dear? Do my actions align with these values, or am I living in contradiction to them?
- What are the lessons or gifts that I can extract from the most challenging experiences or relationships in my life?
- How do I define success and happiness? Am I pursuing a version of success that is truly meaningful to me, or am I chasing societal expectations?
- What are the roles or identities that I have adopted to fit in or gain acceptance? Do they align with my authentic self?
- How does my inner dialogue or self-talk influence my self-perception and overall well-being?
- What are the passions or creative outlets that bring me joy and a sense of fulfilment? How can I incorporate more of them into my life?
- Are there any recurring dreams or symbols that appear in my subconscious mind? What messages might they hold about my true self?
- What is one step I can take today to honour and embrace my true self more fully?
Finally, love and accept yourself, you deserve happiness
Good luck on your journey to self discovery. It’s a brave leap, as you probably know, progress isn’t linear. In the ups and downs of uncovering what triggers you and why, you’ll hopefully come to love all the pieces that make up the whole of you. I know since working on my own shadow, I’ve given myself more grace to make mistakes and be a human with flaws.
If you wondered what my shadow work has unearthed, here’s a snippet:
I’m trying not to hold myself back anymore, putting a lid on my dreams is what I’ve learned from a very young age. I sought external validation and reassurance in everything I did. Shadow work allowed me to be aware of these patterns I keep repeating. Now that I’m aware, I’m able to make differences and change my attitude.
Journals:
- The New Mama Journal – little daily reflections for the first year
- Dear Toddler – weekly log for all your toddlers antics!
Pin me for later ∞