25 Shadow Work Journal Prompts
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life, and you will call it fate.”― Carl Jung
If shadow work is right for you, the following prompts can be used for verbal or written exploration of the self. Be sure to keep a record of your work, whether you record audio or write down your thoughts. One prompt should be used daily. You may need to revisit the same prompt each day for several days to fully explore and process the corresponding emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Thoroughness is much more important than getting through the prompts as quickly as possible. It may take some initial effort to open honest dialogue and discussion with yourself, so I recommend spending 15-minutes reflecting on each prompt, even if the immediate answer seems obvious or you feel you have exhausted all responses to the prompt.
- What negative emotion do you avoid most?
- Where does that negative emotion arise from?
- What situations or experiences do you avoid? Why?
- What is your biggest fear?
- Do you perceive yourself to be more or less worthy than others?
- What mistakes have you made that you feel define you?
- How can you forgive yourself for your past mistakes?
- What traits have you “inherited” from your childhood caregivers?
- What traits are the worst traits someone could possess?
- What is the worst thing you have ever done?
- Does this thing define who you are?
- What is your biggest failure?
- What self-destructive habit do you continue to engage in?
- What is the rationale for engaging in this self-destructive habit?
- What is the biggest lie you are telling yourself?
- What is the biggest lie you are telling others?
- Identify the most unhealthy relationship in your life and the purpose it serves.
- Can that relationship develop into something healthy or does it need to be ended?
- Identify the most healthy relationship in your life and the purpose it serves.
- What steps do you take to maintain the health of that relationship?
- How does your inner voice treat you?
- Who is that inner voice?
- What is your worst childhood memory?
- How does that childhood experience influence you today?
- What makes you self-conscious around others?
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