Welcome back to our Shadow Work series. We’ve explored the unresolved relationships of our past and the powerful feelings of helplessness they can leave behind. Today, we're going to the very heart of why this work is so often a solitary journey: the fear of being truly seen. We all have a part of ourselves that we protect at all costs, believing that if others saw it, they would reject or judge us.
Our journal prompt for today is: "What part of me am I afraid to let others see?"
This question is about more than just a surface-level flaw. It’s about the raw, vulnerable, and often messy parts of our being that we have carefully tucked away. The "part of me" you're afraid to let others see could be a past mistake you've never fully forgiven yourself for, a deep-seated insecurity you carry, a hidden need for validation, or even a beautiful talent you've been afraid to share.
Our shadow, in its protective wisdom, believes that a certain part of us is unlovable or unacceptable. This belief often comes from a painful past experience where we were shamed, criticized, or rejected for expressing our authentic selves. The shadow’s solution is simple: if you hide that part of yourself, you can never be hurt for it again. So, we build a wall around our true selves and present a carefully curated version to the world—a persona that is easy to accept and hard to criticize.
But the cost of this fear is immense. When we hide a part of ourselves, we not only prevent others from truly knowing us, but we also prevent ourselves from fully experiencing life. The energy it takes to maintain this wall of protection is exhausting. It leads to a deep sense of loneliness, a feeling that we are fundamentally disconnected from the people around us. We may have a wide circle of friends or a loving partner, but we still feel a sense of internal isolation because we know they don't know the "real" us.
The purpose of this shadow work is not to force you to reveal all of your secrets to the world. It’s about giving you the profound gift of self-acceptance. By naming the part of you that you're afraid to show, you are beginning to reclaim it. You are telling your shadow, "I see you. You are a part of me, and you don't need to stay in the dark anymore."
The healing begins with a gentle shift from fear to compassion. You can start to say to yourself, "It's okay to have this part of me. It is not something to be ashamed of." By embracing your vulnerabilities, you are giving yourself the courage to show up more authentically in your own life. The ultimate benefit of this practice is the profound freedom that comes from realizing you are worthy of love, exactly as you are, with all of your messy, imperfect, and beautiful parts. Brené Brown does a great job talking about vulnerability in her book, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. It’s worth the read.
If you want more tips and support, find me on TikTok, find me on TT:@ starseedsarah. Let's continue this journey to balance and purpose, and let our energy show what we choose to focus on – success, love & courage!
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