{"id":71901,"date":"2025-04-10T10:07:31","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T10:07:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=71901"},"modified":"2025-05-08T18:32:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T18:32:17","slug":"shadow-work-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Shadow Work Meaning, Facts, and How to Do It"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#What_Is_Shadow_Work\" >What Is Shadow Work?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#The_Persona\" >The Persona<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#The_Shadow\" >The Shadow<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#The_AnimaAnimus\" >The Anima\/Animus<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#The_Self\" >The Self<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#Other_Archetypes_By_Carl_Jung\" >Other Archetypes By Carl Jung<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#Is_Shadow_Work_Negative\" >Is Shadow Work Negative?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#Is_Shadow_Work_Dangerous\" >Is Shadow Work Dangerous?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#How_Do_I_Find_My_Shadow_Self\" >How Do I Find My Shadow Self?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#How_Do_You_Practice_Shadow_Work_Alone\" >How Do You Practice Shadow Work Alone?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#Shadow_Work_Questions\" >Shadow Work Questions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#Keep_a_Shadow_Work_Journal\" >Keep a Shadow Work Journal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#Other_Shadow_Work_Exercises\" >Other Shadow Work Exercises<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#Is_shadow_work_healthy\" >Is shadow work healthy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#Why_do_people_avoid_shadow_work\" >Why do people avoid shadow work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#Does_shadow_work_ever_end\" >Does shadow work ever end?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#What_are_the_3_types_of_shadowing\" >What are the 3 types of shadowing?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doing shadow work may heal childhood trauma. Understandably, the name sounds dark, but it is rooted in the work of famed Swiss analytical psychologist, Carl Jung (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdx.pressbooks.pub\/thebalanceofpersonality\/chapter\/chapter-5-carl-jung\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Carl-Jung\/Character-of-his-psychotherapy\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en?flow=271&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Shadow_Work_Meaning\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-converter-1.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Born in 1875, Carl was a follower of Sigmund Freud who was deeply interested in psychology. Freud and Jung worked closely for five years, but later parted ways due to differences in temperament and points of view.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After going their separate ways, Jung made a name for himself as he developed the concepts of the extroverted and the introverted personality, archetypes, and the collective unconscious. It is said that his work has been instrumental in psychiatry and in the study of religion, literature, and related fields.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s look at his theory and how practicing shadow work may heal repressed feelings and childhood trauma.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Shadow_Work\"><\/span><b>What Is Shadow Work?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the Swiss psychologist, there are four main archetypes. These archetypes are all innate, hereditary, and universal, and they organize how we experience things throughout our lives and also influence our personalities (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/books\/hardcover\/9780691097749\/collected-works-of-c-g-jung-volume-8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s no limit to how many archetypes exist, but there are four main ones that are shared by the entire human race as a part of our collective unconscious (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.routledge.com\/Living-Archetypes-The-selected-works-of-Anthony-Stevens\/Stevens\/p\/book\/9781138915480\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/books\/paperback\/9780691017518\/on-the-nature-of-the-psyche\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">):\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Persona\"><\/span><b>The Persona<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also known as a mask, this is the face that you show to the world. Think of it as a mask or role that you play in public and social circles that hides the real self. This archetype is said to develop during childhood as the child learns what to do and what not to do in order to fit in certain groups or act in a socially acceptable manner. The persona helps you adapt to the world and society you live in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en?flow=271&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Shadow_Work_Meaning\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-67360\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/somatic-movement-therapy-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Shadow Work Meaning\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/somatic-movement-therapy.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/somatic-movement-therapy-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/somatic-movement-therapy.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/somatic-movement-therapy-1636x920.png 1636w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Shadow\"><\/span><b>The Shadow<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is explained as the part of yourself that you may reject, disown, or simply do not recognize. The shadow is part of the unconscious and is made up of repressed ideas, weaknesses, desires, instincts, and shortcomings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The shadow is usually in contrast to \u2018the persona\u2019 as it is said to be formed from your attempts to comply with cultural norms and expectations. This archetype often hides things that are unacceptable to society and to your own morality and values.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the shadow may be seen as bad, some good can also come from it as it can be both destructive and creative. The shadow brings an important balance to the persona and it is advised not to ignore it.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_AnimaAnimus\"><\/span><b>The Anima\/Animus<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This represents the unconscious feminine side in males and male tendencies in women. The unconscious feminine side in males is said to be characterized by feelings of empathy, trust, intuition, and emotional connections with others while male tendencies in women are said to allude to logical thinking, problem-solving, and emotional stability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Jung, the animus represents the masculine aspect that is often suppressed in women while the anima represents the feminine aspect that is suppressed in men. The psychologist believed that both men and women should be allowed to explore their feminine and masculine sides as disregarding these parts of ourselves &#8211; as often encouraged by rigid cultural and gender norms &#8211; would undermine psychological development.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you wish to reach into the deep crevices of your mind, take yourself out of the mental loop, regain balance, infuse yourself with optimism, and cultivate compassion &#8211; <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en?flow=271&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Shadow_Work_Meaning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BetterMe: Meditation &amp; Sleep <\/a>app is exactly what you need!<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Self\"><\/span><b>The Self<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jung often represented the self as either a circle, a square, or a mandala. According to him, this archetype was a representation of a unified conscious and unconscious. The self only occurs when all other archetypes have been acknowledged, accommodated, and integrated within the individual. Jung believed that failure to do this would fail to achieve the self and lead to psychological problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_Archetypes_By_Carl_Jung\"><\/span><b>Other Archetypes By Carl Jung<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As previously mentioned, while the above are the four main archetypes, there is no limit to how many archetypes can exist. Carl believed that archetypes can overlap and combine bringing forth many new and ever-growing archetypes. However, the four main ones can combine, giving rise to 12 archetypal images, namely:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ruler<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creator\/artist<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sage<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Innocent<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explorer<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rebel<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hero<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wizard<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jester<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everyman<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lover<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caregiver<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everyone has these archetypes within their collective consciousness (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdx.pressbooks.pub\/thebalanceofpersonality\/chapter\/chapter-5-carl-jung\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). To get to know all these various parts of the self, you must consciously integrate the conscious and unconscious to find a balance, which leads to self-awareness and a whole and more authentic self.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shadow integration &#8211; shadow work &#8211; is the process of acknowledging and incorporating the repressed or unconscious aspects of the self. This can help you live more authentically (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tamug.edu\/nautilus\/articles\/The%20Jungian%20Shadow%20and%20Self-Acceptance.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s delve into how you can help these archetypes come to light with shadow work so you can possibly be yourself and thrive from the introspective nature of shadow work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-do-somatic-exercises-work\/\">How Do Somatic Exercises Work? Everything You Need to Know<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Shadow_Work_Negative\"><\/span><b>Is Shadow Work Negative?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you perform shadow work, you use self-reflection to bring the shadows out of the collective unconscious and into the conscious light (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdx.pressbooks.pub\/thebalanceofpersonality\/chapter\/chapter-5-carl-jung\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). You become friends with the parts of yourself that you\u2019ve repressed. There\u2019s nothing negative about it.\u00a0 However, some people should practice shadow work with a therapist. Here\u2019s why.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Shadow Work Meaning (Psychology)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Carl Jung\u2019s theory of analytical psychology, the archetypes exist within the collective unconscious mind and are transcultural \u2013 that is these patterns and emotional responses are seen in many cultures. Jung believed they were inherited and innate (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdx.pressbooks.pub\/thebalanceofpersonality\/chapter\/chapter-5-carl-jung\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Carl-Jung\/Character-of-his-psychotherapy\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Within each person\u2019s mind is a consciousness, an unconsciousness, a collective unconscious (which houses the archetypes), and an ego.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within the collective unconscious lies the four main archetypes. The shadow self is the primary focus of shadow work. Carl Jung defined this archetype as the part of the mind that contains desires, memories, and habits that don\u2019t fit societal norms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Society sets limits on what is defined as normal and acceptable. Sociology research has found that society, the family, and the educational system have a profound impact on your beliefs, attitudes, and sense of belonging (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.howardcc.edu\/soci101\/chapter\/4-1-the-importance-of-socialization\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research has also found that opinions are primarily formed through expert influence &#8211; i.e. a highly confident individual in the group &#8211; and the majority effect &#8211; i.e. a critical mass of laypeople sharing similar opinions (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3818331\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shadow work uses exercises, in therapy or at home, to enhance self-reflection and introspection and bring unconscious beliefs to the conscious mind. This allows you to integrate these disowned aspects of yourself, which is essential for the process of individuation and self-realization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Examples of the Shadow Self in Psychology<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your mom is an expert influence when you\u2019re a child. You listen to her as she is confident and your main go-to person as a child. Anything she says becomes your truth as you grow up, whether good or bad. Your mother may tell you how well you do at school, which improves your self-confidence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, she may also yell at you or call you useless and stupid every time you make a mistake as a child. Therefore, you repress the ability to embrace mistakes later on as an adult.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may miss opportunities at work because your fear of making a mistake overwhelms you. Indeed, shadow work can reveal positive desires and talents you hid because your mother called you stupid for making mistakes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, schools play an important role in the above-mentioned majority effect (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchhub.com\/post\/820\/to-what-extent-is-the-individual-shaped-by-society\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3818331\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Perhaps your teachers always scolded you for having opinions in class and you grew up believing you shouldn\u2019t be outspoken or speak your mind, even if it could benefit you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carl Jung also believes creativity could be squashed by the shadow self (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdx.pressbooks.pub\/thebalanceofpersonality\/chapter\/chapter-5-carl-jung\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). For example, your friends made fun of your poems as a child, often using taunting words, so today, you\u2019ve settled for an office job when you could have been a great poet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychology shows you can change your unconscious self by shining a conscious light on your shadow. Australian researchers found self-reflection to be enough to impact behavioral choices and decision-making in a social setting in a small study (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5714897\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>How to Use Shadow Work for Emotional and Spiritual Well-Being<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shadow work can also be defined as inner work that focuses on accepting and healing the darker parts of you that you believe society may not accept. This helps you accept yourself as a whole and can also lead to emotional and even spiritual well-being.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But how do you practically apply this in real life? Some practical techniques of shadow work you can do include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Journaling<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a good way to keep track of your thoughts, feelings, and everyday situations, and it can also be a good way to take note of unconscious thoughts and desires. By <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/journaling-prompts-for-mental-health\/\">journaling<\/a>, you also allow yourself to start tracking patterns and themes in your life, thoughts, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Mindfulness Meditation<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research on mindfulness meditation has shown that the practice helps you become more aware of your body and can also help improve emotional processing (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8869993\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/neuroscience\/articles\/10.3389\/fnins.2019.01074\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/crying-during-meditation\/\">Mindfulness meditation<\/a> with shadow work may help you become aware of your physical sensations, which may help you take note of any repressed emotions and may then help you observe said emotions without judgment and hopefully release them.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Practicing Self-Compassion<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It isn\u2019t easy to acknowledge the parts of yourself that you hide, dislike, and\/or hate. Facing these parts could lead to negative emotions and make you judge yourself harshly. Fortunately, doing shadow work lets you see these parts and acknowledge them. As you do this, remember to be kind to yourself. You cannot achieve the self if you hate these parts and don\u2019t forgive them.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Dream Analysis<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jung believed that our dreams are a reflection of the unconscious and the shadow self. Logging your dreams can help you take note of recurring themes, characters, or symbols that you may normally ignore or forget about. Analyzing these factors can give you better insight into your shadow self.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Shadow_Work_Dangerous\"><\/span><b>Is Shadow Work Dangerous?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shadow work may be dangerous for some individuals with serious childhood trauma. Rumination and possibly flashbacks to trauma could become your enemy if you don\u2019t have the right tools to deal with severe childhood trauma during self-reflective exercises where you intend to discover your shadow self.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Psychological Association<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> describes rumination as the obsessive repetition of negative thoughts (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.apa.org\/rumination\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). For example, you may discover repressed feelings related to painful trauma from your childhood, whether abusive or sexually explicit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Psychiatric Association<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> warns that rumination may lead to depression and anxiety, worsening all negative mental health symptoms (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychiatry.org\/news-room\/apa-blogs\/rumination-a-cycle-of-negative-thinking\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Please seek the help of a licensed therapist to practice shadow work under careful guidance if you have severe <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/overcoming-childhood-trauma\/\">childhood trauma<\/a> or painful repressed memories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en?flow=271&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Shadow_Work_Meaning\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-66197\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Somatic_2-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Shadow Work Meaning\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Somatic_2.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Somatic_2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Somatic_2.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Somatic_2-1636x920.png 1636w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_I_Find_My_Shadow_Self\"><\/span><b>How Do I Find My Shadow Self?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doing shadow work with a licensed therapist is ideal if you have severe childhood trauma. You can use a therapist directory to find a therapist who does shadow work near you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pro tip: For the best results, look into organizations that are dedicated to Carl Jung&#8217;s work. These organizations can help connect you to a licensed therapist who does shadow work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doing shadow work with a licensed therapist could have benefits. A small Australian study found that trauma-focused therapy helped individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder by increasing both insight and self-empowerment (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7957589\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find a therapist who specializes in trauma-focused therapy to help you uncover your shadow self in a safe environment to avoid rumination, depression, and anxiety (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychiatry.org\/news-room\/apa-blogs\/rumination-a-cycle-of-negative-thinking\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). You may find yourself able to do shadow work alone after dealing with the more challenging shadows with a qualified professional.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/somatic-yoga-detox\/\">What Is Somatic Yoga Detox? Explore Key Somatic Yoga Detox Exercises to Rid Your Body of Toxins!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Practice_Shadow_Work_Alone\"><\/span><b>How Do You Practice Shadow Work Alone?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As shadow work utilizes introspection and self-reflection exercises, it may be a good idea to avoid practicing it alone if you have severe trauma. However, these exercises, prompts, and questions can help you reflect on your shadow self.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Shadow_Work_Questions\"><\/span><b>Shadow Work Questions<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note that when you ignore your shadow self, you may end up projecting these ignored and disowned parts onto others. Shadow work starts when you self-reflect, which helps you be conscious of these parts and avoids projecting (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5714897\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Ask yourself these questions to self-reflect:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What makes you feel judgemental toward others?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What makes you feel resentment toward others?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is there anyone that makes you feel envious and why?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which emotions bring the worst out of you?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why do you think these emotions trigger you this way?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How often do you avoid doing something out of fear?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do any friendships make you feel insecure, and do any make you feel secure?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why do those relationships make you feel this way?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the one thing you wish people could understand about you?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What lies do you commonly tell yourself to feel better?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why do you tell yourself these lies?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s the worst memory you have from childhood?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is it your worst childhood memory?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keep_a_Shadow_Work_Journal\"><\/span><b>Keep a Shadow Work Journal<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A huge benefit of shadow work is that it encourages awareness and the acceptance of negative emotions and research has shown that the acceptance of these factors without judgment can lead to psychological health (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2017-30458-001\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there may not be a lot of studies that have looked at shadow work and journaling, over the years it has been shown that reflective journaling can help an individual break through creative barriers (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/scholarworks.umb.edu\/cgi\/viewcontent.cgi?article=1374&amp;context=cct_capstone\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), regulate their thoughts better (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/14623943.2020.1716708\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), improve their practical skills, and more (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8394420\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If we combine all these factors, we can see how journaling may be beneficial for emotional processing and shadow work. Harness the powers of self-reflection by journaling daily.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reflect on what you write down the next day to give your mind some time to absorb the repressed information. Use the prompts below to dig into your mind with your daily journal exercise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Running a never-ending rat race, shoving trauma further and further away, falling into self-harming thought patterns, living life that\u2019s eclipsed by constant anxiety and fear \u2013 this is what an average person goes through every day. Not addressing it will only pull you deeper into a downward spiral. BetterMe: Meditation &amp; Sleep app will help you <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en?flow=271&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Shadow_Work_Meaning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gain a new perspective<\/a> on life and help you regain that long-lost internal balance!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Shadow Work Prompts for Journaling<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Journaling is an excellent exercise in shadow work, with multiple potential benefits (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/scholarworks.umb.edu\/cgi\/viewcontent.cgi?article=1374&amp;context=cct_capstone\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/14623943.2020.1716708\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8394420\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Use these prompts to start your shadow work journal:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Describe the most influential experience of your childhood.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Describe how it made you feel then and now.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">List your greatest fears about discovering your shadow traits.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">List triggers that make you feel frustrated around people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">List triggers that make you feel upset or uncomfortable at work.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Describe what you think about people when you feel angry at them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Write down your dreams and the most common symbols you see in them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Write down how you think people see you and how it makes you feel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Describe the worst traits you think someone can have.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">List memories you feel ashamed of and why they trigger shame.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">List your most common fears when walking into a room of people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Describe what you deeply desire but fear you can\u2019t achieve.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_Shadow_Work_Exercises\"><\/span><b>Other Shadow Work Exercises<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All exercises that help you practice self-reflection are good for shadow work. Here are some ideas to practice shadow work at home:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep a dream journal or practice dream analysis &#8211; Jung believed that dreams are a way for the unconscious mind to communicate with the conscious mind. A small study in the UK found that dreams may provide some insight into your unconscious mind (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24550849\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Jot down your dreams as soon as you wake up and reflect on them later in the day with your journal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meditate to self-reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs &#8211; A small study reviewed by the California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology found that <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/somatic-meditation\/\">meditation<\/a> could help individuals decrease depression and stress symptoms by becoming conscious of their thoughts (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC10355843\/#:~:text=Fourteen%20participants%20finished%20the%20study,be%20balanced%20through%20meditative%20practices.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>For more mental health reading:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/journaling-prompts-for-mental-health\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Journaling Prompts for Mental Health<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/spiritual-meditation\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spiritual Meditation<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/third-eye-opening-meditation\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Third-Eye Opening Meditation<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en?flow=271&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Shadow_Work_Meaning\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-66391\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Somatic_10-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Shadow Work Meaning\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Somatic_10.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Somatic_10-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Somatic_10.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Somatic_10-1636x920.png 1636w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span><b>Frequently Asked Questions<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_shadow_work_healthy\"><\/span><strong>Is shadow work healthy?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shadow work is healthy for some and unhealthy for others. Self-reflection can help you identify behavioral choices and make different decisions (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5714897\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). However, it may be unhealthy for someone with severe trauma who ruminates about past life experiences (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.apa.org\/rumination\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychiatry.org\/news-room\/apa-blogs\/rumination-a-cycle-of-negative-thinking#:~:text=Rumination%20involves%20repetitive%20thinking%20or,and%20can%20worsen%20existing%20conditions.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_people_avoid_shadow_work\"><\/span><strong>Why do people avoid shadow work?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some people avoid shadow work due to worries that it may be sinful. However, most people avoid shadow work for fear of dredging up painful or traumatic memories. Severe trauma can dysregulate emotional control and make it more difficult to practice shadow work without professional help (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK207191\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_shadow_work_ever_end\"><\/span><strong>Does shadow work ever end?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shadow work never ends as the shadow self will always be a part of your collective unconsciousness, according to Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychologist. Working on your shadow self is a lifelong commitment if you want to manage a permanent part of your inner psyche.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_3_types_of_shadowing\"><\/span><strong>What are the 3 types of shadowing?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shadow work means bringing your unconscious shadow into the conscious light (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdx.pressbooks.pub\/thebalanceofpersonality\/chapter\/chapter-5-carl-jung\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). The first step to shadowing is gaining awareness; the second step is observing your shadow; and the final step is changing how you respond to triggers by integrating the disowned parts of yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mind.betterme.world\/en?flow=271&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Shadow_Work_Meaning\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-converter.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><b>The Bottom Line<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shadow work refers to the inner work you do alone or with a therapist to discover the reasons behind your triggers, emotional trauma, and personal challenges. It may be an effective tool to help you become your ideal self, so begin exploring it on your own or consult a therapist for guidance.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Doing shadow work may heal childhood trauma. Understandably, the name sounds dark, but it is rooted in the work of famed Swiss analytical psychologist, Carl Jung (1, 2).\u00a0 Born in 1875, Carl was a follower of Sigmund Freud who was deeply interested in psychology. Freud and Jung worked closely for five years, but later parted [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":71902,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[138],"tags":[],"coauthors":[45],"class_list":["post-71901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-therapy"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Shadow Work Meaning, Facts, and How to Do It - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This\u2605 SHADOW WORK MEANING \u27a4 article provides psychology examples, evidence to support the practice, and information on how to practice it and when to avoid practicing it alone.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Shadow Work Meaning, Facts, and How to Do It\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This\u2605 SHADOW WORK MEANING \u27a4 article provides psychology examples, evidence to support the practice, and information on how to practice it and when to avoid practicing it alone.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"#\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-08T18:32:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/4222-shadow-work-meaning-1024x640.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"BetterMe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"BetterMe\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/46a2559fa95a734cb81f6fc6a2c3f404\"},\"headline\":\"Shadow Work Meaning, Facts, and How to Do It\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-08T18:32:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/\"},\"wordCount\":2800,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/4222-shadow-work-meaning.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Therapy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Doing shadow work may heal childhood trauma. Understandably, the name sounds dark, but it is rooted in the work of famed Swiss analytical psychologist, Carl Jung (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/pdx.pressbooks.pub\/thebalanceofpersonality\/chapter\/chapter-5-carl-jung\/\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">, <\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Carl-Jung\/Character-of-his-psychotherapy\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">).\u00a0<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span data-sheets-root=\\\"1\\\"><\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Born in 1875, Carl was a follower of Sigmund Freud who was deeply interested in psychology. Freud and Jung worked closely for five years, but later parted ways due to differences in temperament and points of view.\u00a0<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">After going their separate ways, Jung made a name for himself as he developed the concepts of the extroverted and the introverted personality, archetypes, and the collective unconscious. It is said that his work has been instrumental in psychiatry and in the study of religion, literature, and related fields.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Let\u2019s look at his theory and how practicing shadow work may heal repressed feelings and childhood trauma.\u00a0<\/span>\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><b>What Is Shadow Work?<\/b><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">According to the Swiss psychologist, there are four main archetypes. These archetypes are all innate, hereditary, and universal, and they organize how we experience things throughout our lives and also influence our personalities (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/books\/hardcover\/9780691097749\/collected-works-of-c-g-jung-volume-8\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">).\u00a0<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">There\u2019s no limit to how many archetypes exist, but there are four main ones that ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/\",\"name\":\"Shadow Work Meaning, Facts, and How to Do It - BetterMe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/4222-shadow-work-meaning.png\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-08T18:32:17+00:00\",\"description\":\"This\u2605 SHADOW WORK MEANING \u27a4 article provides psychology examples, evidence to support the practice, and information on how to practice it and when to avoid practicing it alone.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/4222-shadow-work-meaning.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/4222-shadow-work-meaning.png\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1200},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Mental Health\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/mental-health\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Therapy\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/mental-health\/therapy\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Shadow Work Meaning, Facts, and How to Do It\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/\",\"name\":\"BetterMe Blog\",\"description\":\"Health &amp; Fitness\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\",\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"alternateName\":\"Betterme Limited\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"BetterMe\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/betterme\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterme\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/betterme-apps\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bettermetips\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0svgcjc3jSgcryqo83spPQ\",\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@betterme.health.coaching\",\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/betterme-health-coaching\/id1264546236\",\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.gen.workoutme&amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;gl=US\",\"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q114895798\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/46a2559fa95a734cb81f6fc6a2c3f404\",\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/f8c457bbfb019eee5091c2120aabff05\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-6-150x150.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-6-150x150.png\",\"caption\":\"BetterMe\"},\"sameAs\":[\"#\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/author\/bttrm-admin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Shadow Work Meaning, Facts, and How to Do It - BetterMe","description":"This\u2605 SHADOW WORK MEANING \u27a4 article provides psychology examples, evidence to support the practice, and information on how to practice it and when to avoid practicing it alone.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"nofollow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Shadow Work Meaning, Facts, and How to Do It","og_description":"This\u2605 SHADOW WORK MEANING \u27a4 article provides psychology examples, evidence to support the practice, and information on how to practice it and when to avoid practicing it alone.","og_url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_author":"#","article_modified_time":"2025-05-08T18:32:17+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":640,"url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/4222-shadow-work-meaning-1024x640.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"BetterMe","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"BetterMe","Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/"},"author":{"name":"BetterMe","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/46a2559fa95a734cb81f6fc6a2c3f404"},"headline":"Shadow Work Meaning, Facts, and How to Do It","dateModified":"2025-05-08T18:32:17+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/"},"wordCount":2800,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/4222-shadow-work-meaning.png","articleSection":["Therapy"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doing shadow work may heal childhood trauma. Understandably, the name sounds dark, but it is rooted in the work of famed Swiss analytical psychologist, Carl Jung (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdx.pressbooks.pub\/thebalanceofpersonality\/chapter\/chapter-5-carl-jung\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Carl-Jung\/Character-of-his-psychotherapy\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Born in 1875, Carl was a follower of Sigmund Freud who was deeply interested in psychology. Freud and Jung worked closely for five years, but later parted ways due to differences in temperament and points of view.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After going their separate ways, Jung made a name for himself as he developed the concepts of the extroverted and the introverted personality, archetypes, and the collective unconscious. It is said that his work has been instrumental in psychiatry and in the study of religion, literature, and related fields.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s look at his theory and how practicing shadow work may heal repressed feelings and childhood trauma.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>What Is Shadow Work?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the Swiss psychologist, there are four main archetypes. These archetypes are all innate, hereditary, and universal, and they organize how we experience things throughout our lives and also influence our personalities (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/books\/hardcover\/9780691097749\/collected-works-of-c-g-jung-volume-8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s no limit to how many archetypes exist, but there are four main ones that ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/","url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/","name":"Shadow Work Meaning, Facts, and How to Do It - BetterMe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/4222-shadow-work-meaning.png","dateModified":"2025-05-08T18:32:17+00:00","description":"This\u2605 SHADOW WORK MEANING \u27a4 article provides psychology examples, evidence to support the practice, and information on how to practice it and when to avoid practicing it alone.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/4222-shadow-work-meaning.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/4222-shadow-work-meaning.png","width":1920,"height":1200},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/shadow-work-meaning\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Mental Health","item":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/mental-health\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Therapy","item":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/mental-health\/therapy\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Shadow Work Meaning, Facts, and How to Do It"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/","name":"BetterMe Blog","description":"Health &amp; Fitness","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization","name":"BetterMe","alternateName":"Betterme Limited","url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"BetterMe"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/x.com\/betterme","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterme\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/betterme-apps","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bettermetips\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0svgcjc3jSgcryqo83spPQ","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/betterme-health-coaching\/id1264546236","https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.gen.workoutme&amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;gl=US","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q114895798"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/46a2559fa95a734cb81f6fc6a2c3f404","name":"BetterMe","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/f8c457bbfb019eee5091c2120aabff05","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-6-150x150.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-6-150x150.png","caption":"BetterMe"},"sameAs":["#"],"url":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/author\/bttrm-admin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71901"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72684,"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71901\/revisions\/72684"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71901"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=71901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}