The Power of Shadow Work and Positive Affirmations

Are you interested in living an improved life and achieving the goals you want to reach?

Shadow work and the Law of Attraction can really make a difference in your life; this article covers the basic premise of each of these topics. It also explores the benefits of doing shadow work before reciting or writing your positive affirmations. If you are interested in learning more, keep reading! 

Shadow Work 101

Dr. Carl Jung, a well-known psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, talked about people’s “shadow” in many of his theories. The shadow is the darker, more hidden side of a person’s personality. This is the part of us that we feel shame, embarrassment, or fear over. As much as we would love to deny it, we all have things in our lives that we are not proud of and would like to change. For example, you may struggle with anger issues. These issues cause you to lash out at people when you are mad and throw objects. 

Shadow work helps people realize and take authority over the darker things about themselves, rather than glossing over them. This work helps people deal with their problems and eventually leads to growth and healing. A popular way people do shadow work is through journal prompts. Journal prompts help you explore your inner thoughts, concerns, and ideas through paper and pen. Being alone with your thoughts allows you to: be honest with yourself, analyze why you feel a certain way, find what triggers these emotions, and learn how to accept them.

Warning: Many people who do shadow work warn that the process can be very emotional and distressing to deal with at times. If you have PTSD or deal with any type of trauma in your life, enter shadow work with caution. If you are able to see a mental health professional, have them help you with this emotional unpacking and your healing process.

What is The Law of Attraction?

The Law of Attraction is the idea that we all have the ability to attract what we want in life. Everything in this world is made up of energy; through each moment, things are constantly moving and vibrating at different levels of frequency. When we are operating at a low vibration, this state is reflected throughout our lives. 

People who vibrate at a low vibration appear to contain more negative emotions like anger, shame, jealousy, and fear. These people are consumed with negativity and can feel draining to be around. On the other hand, when someone is in a high-vibrational state, they embody love and light. These people give off positive energy and radiate with compassion and warmth. 

The Law of Attraction emphasizes the idea that “like attracts like.” Think of a magnet in an alternate universe; when something is giving off the same vibrations as something else, they come together. So, if you are negative and gloomy all the time, that is the type of experiences and people you are more likely to come across. Alternatively, when you are sending out positive signals to the world, you will come across more good things in life. 

Using Law of Attraction: Through Positive Affirmations

After learning about the Law of Attraction, would you want to manifest more positive things in your life? Manifestation is intentionally claiming and attracting what you want in life; this is done by channeling your thoughts and beliefs to focus on your goals/desires. There are many popular ways to manifest, but positive affirmation is probably the best-known.

Positive affirmations are statements, usually starting with the phrase “I am,” that promote what you are trying to achieve. For example, if someone wants to make more friends in life, an affirmation they can use is, “I am attracting sacred connections and relationships with new people.” Think of what you want in life…do you have a goal in mind?…now craft your positive affirmations based on these dreams.

Furthermore, positive affirmations can help you be kinder to yourself and reframe negative thought patterns. If you constantly say negative statements about your body, as an example, you could use positive affirmations to counteract those ideas. 

Repeat: 

• I am enough

• I have a perfect body

• I value and respect all my body does for me

• I am grateful for the body I have

• I am in love with my body

You can speak affirmations, repeat them to yourself, or write them out. You can write out positive affirmations with the 33×3 or 55×5 method. This is where you write out the affirmations 33 times each day for 3 days or 55 times each day for 5 days.

Why Doing Shadow Work Before Positive Affirmations is Beneficial

Doing shadow work before manifesting with positive affirmations can be beneficial to you. As mentioned before, shadow work helps people uncover darker parts of themselves, understand these things, and accept them. In order to successfully utilize the Law of Attraction, a person must raise their vibration to be more positive and healthy. Doing shadow work can help you heal from people and experiences that may have been keeping you at a lower vibration. 

Moreover, shadow work gets pretty intense at times. There will be times when you are dealing with heavy topics or points of difficulty in your spiritual and healing journey. Positive affirmations can help you access some positivity and inspiring thoughts after dealing with a lot of darkness. 

Examples of Shadow Work Prompts and Positive Affirmations

Shadow Work Prompts:

• How have you been self-sabotaging yourself and your progress in life?

• What are some things you dislike in others? Do you see these same attributes or actions in yourself?

• What memories bring up feelings of guilt and shame?

• If you could change something about yourself that would make your life better, what would it be? Write out detailed steps for achieving this goal.

• What memories bring up feelings of guilt and shame?

Positive Affirmations:

• I am always enough

• I am successful and my goals are being accomplished

• I am surrounded by people who love me and accept me for who I am 

• I am brave and resilient

• I am treated with love and respect always 

A Message from Jackie…

I’m wishing you the best of luck on your spiritual and healing journeys. Never forget how strong and resilient you are. When you experience difficulties in your path, have faith in yourself and trust that you can push through. When you believe in yourself and focus on positivity in your life, you will be unstoppable!

About the Author

Jackie Caputo is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides therapy in Woodland Hills, CA. She also provides online therapy in California to individuals throughout the state.