December 23, 2024 • 13 mins
50 Shadow Self Journal Prompts
Unlock the transformative power within as we guide you through the captivating realm of your shadow self with insights inspired by Clara Penrose's 50 journal prompts on Lestallion. Ever wondered why we stumble over the same obstacles repeatedly? This episode promises to untangle the hidden threads of repression and denial, offering a roadmap to personal growth through self-awareness, releasing shame, understanding fear, embracing authenticity, and self-compassion. We discuss how these prompts encourage us to confront projection in our interactions and reevaluate long-standing negative beliefs, revealing how these exercises can transform how we view ourselves and the world around us.
Join us on a compassionate journey towards wholeness, where extending kindness to ourselves becomes as natural as breathing. By embracing meditation, journaling, and setting healthy boundaries, we learn to prioritize self-care and foster a supportive environment for both ourselves and others. We explore the immense rewards of shadow work, despite its challenges, and highlight practical strategies for nurturing self-compassion. With Clara Penrose's prompts as our compass, listeners are invited to embark on a path of self-discovery that promises to enrich and illuminate the authentic self hidden beneath the shadows.
LeStallion offers premium PU leather journal notebooks for writing, dedicated to all those who are pursuing their dreams and goals, or nurturing their personal development and mental health.
For More Info on LeStallion, check out:
https://lestallion.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, Ready to dive deep.
Today we're tackling the shadowself.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Ooh, sounds intense.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
It is kind of We've got these 50 journal prompts
from a blog post by ClaraPenrose on Lestallion.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Okay, journal prompts .
I like it.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Yeah, and these aren't like you know what's your
favorite color, or whatever.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
They're designed to help you uncover hidden parts of
yourself.
The ones you might not evenwant to admit are there.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Like a designed to help you uncover hidden parts of
yourself, the ones you mightnot even want to admit.
Are there like a deep dive intothose hidden corners of your
mind?
Exactly, I love that.
And uh, tell me about theseprompts.
Where do they, what do they?
How do they start?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
well, I mean, the prompts are designed to like
guide you right, but first weshould probably talk about, like
, what the shadow self actuallyis yes, good point.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
It's not like some evil twin right?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
No, no no, nothing like that.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Okay, good.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
More like those aspects of ourselves we tend to
repress or deny.
You know the stuff we try tohide, even from ourselves.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Right, like all those little things, those little
pieces of ourselves that we'vekind of shoved down and tried to
forget about.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Interesting.
So you've kind of shoved downand tried to forget about yeah,
interesting.
So what's the benefit ofdigging all that up?
Doesn't sound super fun.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Well, think of it like this Imagine you keep
tripping over something in yourhouse.
You can just keep ignoring it,but wouldn't it be better to
figure out what it is and moveit?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, that's a good analogy.
I like that.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Makes sense.
So that's kind of whatexploring your shadow self is
like.
It's about understanding theroot of your patterns, your
reactions, all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
It makes a lot of sense.
And so these 50 prompts fromPenrose do they give us like a
structure for that.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
They totally do.
She's grouped them into themesSelf-awareness, releasing shame,
understanding fear, embracingauthenticity and self-compassion
.
It's like a roadmap.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Oh, I like that A roadmap for our deep dive into
the shadow self.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
That's great, and so each of those themes, like, do
they build on each other?
Are they connected in any way?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
It's like you start withself-awareness, which is the
foundation right the foundation.
Then you can start peeling backthe layers.
You know the shame, the fear,all of it.
That makes sense and from thereyou can move towards like
embracing your authentic selfand finding self-compassion.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I like that, so like if we were to start with
self-awareness.
What are some of the prompts inthere that, like, really stood
out to you?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Hmm, let me think, oh , there's one that's like Really
stood out to you.
Hmm, let me think, oh, there'sone that's like what qualities
do I find most challenging inothers, and how might those
traits reflect parts of myselfthat I'm avoiding?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Ooh interesting, that's deep.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Right, it's all about recognizing projection.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Projection.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Remind me what that is again.
It's like when we unconsciouslyattribute our own you know,
unacceptable qualities ontoother people.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Ah, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
So, for example, if you find yourself constantly
annoyed by someone who's I knowalways late, maybe it's because
you struggle with timemanagement.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
But you haven't fully acknowledged it.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Wow, that's a powerful insight.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
It really is Like those traits that bug us the
most in others.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
They're often a reflection of something we
haven't dealt with in ourselves.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
That is so true.
It's like those things thatreally get under your skin.
It's often because there'ssomething there for you to look
at Interesting.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Right.
So, like with that prompt, youcan kind of shine a light on
your blind spots.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Oh, I like that.
I like that a lot.
Yeah, it's a good one.
So are there any other promptsin this self-awareness section?
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Oh yeah, there are a bunch.
There's another one that Ireally like.
It's what's one negative beliefabout myself that I've carried
for years.
What are its origins and is itreally true?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Oh, that's a good one .
I like that.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Right, we all have those limiting beliefs.
You know I'm not good and I'mnot lovable things like that
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
We all have those limiting beliefs.
You know I'm not good and I'mnot lovable things like that.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yes, yes, we all have them.
But this prompt makes youreally examine those beliefs
Like where do they come from?
Are they even true anymore?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Right, because a lot of times those beliefs they're
rooted in, like childhoodexperiences, things people said
to us, messages we absorbed fromsociety.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Exactly yeah, but as adults we can choose whether to
keep carrying those beliefs ornot.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Such a good point.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
And just questioning them, like really questioning
them.
That can be the first step toletting them go.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
It's like you know, you shine a light on a cobweb
and suddenly it doesn't seem sostrong anymore.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Wow, this is really interesting stuff.
I'm already feeling like I'mlearning a lot.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Me too, and we're just getting started.
It's like whoa these promptscan really shift your
perspective.
I know Right, and we've onlyjust started with self-awareness
.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
There's like so much more to explore, so true.
So where do we go next on thisroadmap?
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Well, Penrose's next theme is releasing shame.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
OK, shame, that's a tough one, it is.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I think we all carry some you know stuff.
We regret mistakes we've madeyeah, definitely shame.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
It's universal, you know, everyone experiences it.
And it's powerful, reallypowerful, can keep you stuck,
stuck in the past totally keepsyou from taking risks, can even
mess up your relationships sohow do these prompts help with
that, with the shame?
Well, they kind of guide youtowards self-forgiveness, you
know, accepting those pastmistakes and dealing with that
(05:11):
feeling of not enoughness.
A lot of people struggle withthat, you know, like feeling
like they're not enough.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah that's a big one .
Speaker 2 (05:19):
It is, and one prompt that I think is really helpful
is what's one mistake from mypast that I still hold against
myself?
What would it take for me toforgive myself?
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Oof, that's heavy, it is yeah but it's important,
right?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
you can't move forward if you're always beating
yourself up over past stufftotally, but forgiving yourself.
That's not like yeah, sayingwhat you did was okay no, no,
it's about acknowledging youmade a mistake, learning from it
and letting it go, recognizingyou're human.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
We all mess up sometimes it's like giving
yourself the same grace youwould give a friend.
Exactly, I like that.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
And there's another prompt kind of related to this
Right.
What is one thing about myselfthat I wish no one else would
ever find out?
How has keeping this secretaffected me?
It's about, like, the weight ofsecrets.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Secrets are tough.
It's like they create a wallbetween you and other people.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
They do.
A lot of secrets come fromshame, you know fear of judgment
.
But this prompt it makes youthink about how keeping the
secret might actually be hurtingyou.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Right Like.
Is it affecting yourrelationships, your self-esteem?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, exactly Like.
Is holding on to that secretworth it, or could you actually
be more free if you let it go?
Speaker 1 (06:27):
It's like a cost-benefit analysis for your
secrets.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Kind of and sometimes just acknowledging those
secrets, sharing them withsomeone you trust, a friend or
therapist it can be really,really liberating.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Okay, so we've done self-awareness releasing shame.
What's next?
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Well, once you've kind of unpacked some of those
heavier things, you can start todeal with your fear.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Fear my favorite, some of those heavier things you
can start to deal with yourfear.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Fear my favorite Right.
Everyone loves fear, butseriously.
The next set of prompts is allabout understanding fear, which
I mean.
Fear is a powerful thing.
It can really hold you back.
It totally can.
But these prompts help you seewhat's underneath those fears.
Like what are you truly afraidof, and how is fear keeping you
from living a better life?
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Oh, there's one prompt that's like if fear
wasn't a factor, what's thefirst thing I would change in my
life?
What does this reveal about mypriorities?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
That's a good one.
It cuts through all the noiseand helps you figure out what
really matters, because fear candisguise itself as being
practical or even laziness.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Well, yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But when you get rid of those excuses, what's left?
What do you really want?
Speaker 1 (07:31):
It's about getting clear on your dreams, even if
they're scary.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Exactly.
And there's another prompt howdo I act differently when I'm
afraid compared to when I feelsecure?
What can this reveal about howfear shapes my behavior?
Speaker 1 (07:46):
That's interesting.
It's like we might not evenrealize how much fear is
controlling us until we payattention.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Right, we might become more people pleasing when
we're insecure, or maybe moreaggressive or controlling.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Yeah, that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
It's about becoming aware of those patterns so you
can make better choices insteadof letting fear run the show.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Like taking back control.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Okay, so we faced our fears.
What's the next step on thisshadow work journey?
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Well, once you understand those hitting parts
the shame, fears, beliefs youcan start to embrace your
authentic self.
That's what these next promptsare about Embracing authenticity
.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Authenticity?
That sounds kind ofintimidating.
What if my authentic self islike weird?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
But that's the great part.
Your authentic self is whatmakes you you.
It's about embracing all of itthe good, the bad, the quirky,
and letting go of trying to fitin or please everyone else.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
One prompt that really spoke to me here is
what's a part of me.
I feel I need to hide fromothers, and why do I feel that
way?
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Yeah, it's about those parts of ourselves we keep
hidden, even from people welove.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
And it asks you to think about why.
Why do you feel like you needto hide those parts Exactly?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Is it fear of judgment, rejection?
What are the underlying beliefsdriving that secrecy?
Speaker 1 (08:58):
It's like those parts of ourselves we've decided are
unacceptable or unlovable.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Right.
But this prompt asks you tothink are those beliefs actually
true or have you just beentaught to believe that?
Speaker 1 (09:08):
It's about challenging those old beliefs.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yes, and then there's this one.
What is one small way I canbegin showing up as my truest
self today, even if it'suncomfortable?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
It's about taking small steps toward authenticity,
even if it feels a little scary.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Exactly.
Maybe it's wearing that outfityou love, but are too afraid to
wear out or speaking up in ameeting even though you're
nervous.
Little acts of courage, youknow they help you step into
your power.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I like that.
So, as we're embracingauthenticity, we also need
self-compassion.
Right?
That's the last set of prompts.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Right.
Self-compassion is so important, especially when you're doing
this kind of inner work.
It's about treating yourselfwith kindness and understanding,
like you would a friend.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Totally.
There's a prompt that says whatare my strengths and how often
do I acknowledge them, versusfocusing on my flaws.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
That's a good one.
We're so hard on ourselves,always focusing on what we need
to improve, but this reminds youto celebrate your
accomplishments.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Appreciate your talents.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Exactly.
It's about shifting fromself-criticism to
self-appreciation.
What are you good at?
What are you proud of?
What makes you happy?
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yeah, those are the things to to celebrate and then
there's this one.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
If I could send a message to my past self, what
words of compassion andencouragement would I share?
That one gives me?
Every time it's about offeringyourself the same kindness you'd
offer your younger self, youknow, with everything you know.
Now, what would you say toreassure them, comfort them?
Speaker 1 (10:35):
encourage them.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Yes it's about realizing we've all been through
tough stuff, we've all messedup, but we're all worthy of love
and acceptance, even when wefall short I like that a lot and
it leads us to this what wouldmy life look like if I treated
myself with the same kindnessand understanding that I offer
to others?
Speaker 1 (10:54):
wow, that's a big one it is.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
But imagine if we were all as kind to ourselves as
we are to the people we love.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
It would be a different world.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
It would be A world with more compassion, more
forgiveness, more joy.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
And that sounds like a world worth striving for.
Wow, we've covered a lot,haven't we?
And it's heavy stuff.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
But it feels like we've just scratched the surface
.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Yeah, lot, haven't we .
And it's heavy stuff.
Yeah, but it feels like we'vejust scratched the surface.
Yeah, it's true, there's alwaysmore to learn about the shadow
self.
But you know, there's one thingthat keeps coming up for me.
What's that?
Self-acceptance.
It seems like that's at thecore of all this shadow work.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Really.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yeah, I think so.
Like, whether you're facingshame or fear, or trying to be
more authentic, it all comesback to accepting yourself.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Makes sense, like accepting those parts of
yourself that you've mayberejected before, and seeing them
as part of who you are, notjust flaws.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Exactly Like.
There's a prompt in theself-compassion section that
says what would it mean to letgo of shame and accept my flaws
as part of my unique self?
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
It makes you rethink what a flaw even is.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Right, like maybe those flaws are just what make
you you, what makes youdifferent.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Exactly, and when you can embrace those parts of
yourself, you can be moreauthentic, more confident
because you're not hidinganymore.
Right, and that can lead tobetter relationships too Right,
when you can let people see thereal you.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
That makes sense.
It's like you're not afraid tobe vulnerable anymore there's a
prompt about that too.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
What's one thing I would say to a friend who feels
shame about something similar tomy own experience?
How can I extend that kindnessto myself?
Speaker 1 (12:27):
oh yeah, that's a good one it reminds you that
everyone struggles.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
We all need compassion yeah, it's like
building a more supportive worldfor yourself and for others
exactly, exactly, and that'swhat I love about shadow work
it's personal growth, but it'salso about spreading compassion
and acceptance.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Okay, so before we wrap up, were there any other
prompts that really stood out toyou?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Oh yeah, there was one.
In what ways can I create morespace for self-compassion in my
daily life?
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Well, that's a good one.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Because it's easy to forget about self-care when life
gets busy.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Yeah, totally.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
But self-compassion isn't a luxury, it's essential.
It's those little things you doevery day to take care of
yourself.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Like taking time to meditate or journaling.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Yeah, or setting boundaries with people who drain
your energy.
It's about making yourself apriority.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
So true, it's like giving yourself permission to
rest.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
To recharge.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
And remember, self-compassion is a practice.
It's something you work on overtime, All right.
So as we wrap up this deep diveinto the shadow self, what's
one thing you hope listenerstake away?
Speaker 2 (13:28):
I hope they remember that exploring the shadow self
isn't about negativity.
It's about understandingyourself better so you can be
more whole, more authentic.
And that journey yeah, it canbe tough, but it's so worth it.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Well said.
And for anyone listening whowants to dive deeper, check out
Clara Penrose's full list of 50prompts on the Listallion
website.
You might be surprised by whatyou discover.
And remember be kind toyourself.
This is a journey and with that, happy exploring.
All right, Ready to dive deep.
Today we're tackling the shadowself.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Ooh, sounds intense.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
It is kind of We've got these 50 journal prompts
from a blog post by ClaraPenrose on Lestallion.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Okay, journal prompts .
I like it.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Yeah, and these aren't like you know what's your
favorite color, or whatever.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
They're designed to help you uncover hidden parts of
yourself.
The ones you might not evenwant to admit are there.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Like a designed to help you uncover hidden parts of
yourself, the ones you mightnot even want to admit.
Are there like a deep dive intothose hidden corners of your
mind?
Exactly, I love that.
And uh, tell me about theseprompts.
Where do they, what do they?
How do they start?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
well, I mean, the prompts are designed to like
guide you right, but first weshould probably talk about, like
, what the shadow self actuallyis yes, good point.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
It's not like some evil twin right?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
No, no no, nothing like that.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Okay, good.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
More like those aspects of ourselves we tend to
repress or deny.
You know the stuff we try tohide, even from ourselves.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Right, like all those little things, those little
pieces of ourselves that we'vekind of shoved down and tried to
forget about.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Interesting.
So you've kind of shoved downand tried to forget about yeah,
interesting.
So what's the benefit ofdigging all that up?
Doesn't sound super fun.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Well, think of it like this Imagine you keep
tripping over something in yourhouse.
You can just keep ignoring it,but wouldn't it be better to
figure out what it is and moveit?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, that's a good analogy.
I like that.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Makes sense.
So that's kind of whatexploring your shadow self is
like.
It's about understanding theroot of your patterns, your
reactions, all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
It makes a lot of sense.
And so these 50 prompts fromPenrose do they give us like a
structure for that.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
They totally do.
She's grouped them into themesSelf-awareness, releasing shame,
understanding fear, embracingauthenticity and self-compassion
.
It's like a roadmap.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Oh, I like that A roadmap for our deep dive into
the shadow self.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
That's great, and so each of those themes, like, do
they build on each other?
Are they connected in any way?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
It's like you start withself-awareness, which is the
foundation right the foundation.
Then you can start peeling backthe layers.
You know the shame, the fear,all of it.
That makes sense and from thereyou can move towards like
embracing your authentic selfand finding self-compassion.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I like that, so like if we were to start with
self-awareness.
What are some of the prompts inthere that, like, really stood
out to you?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Hmm, let me think, oh , there's one that's like Really
stood out to you.
Hmm, let me think, oh, there'sone that's like what qualities
do I find most challenging inothers, and how might those
traits reflect parts of myselfthat I'm avoiding?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Ooh interesting, that's deep.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Right, it's all about recognizing projection.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Projection.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Remind me what that is again.
It's like when we unconsciouslyattribute our own you know,
unacceptable qualities ontoother people.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Ah, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
So, for example, if you find yourself constantly
annoyed by someone who's I knowalways late, maybe it's because
you struggle with timemanagement.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
But you haven't fully acknowledged it.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Wow, that's a powerful insight.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
It really is Like those traits that bug us the
most in others.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
They're often a reflection of something we
haven't dealt with in ourselves.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
That is so true.
It's like those things thatreally get under your skin.
It's often because there'ssomething there for you to look
at Interesting.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Right.
So, like with that prompt, youcan kind of shine a light on
your blind spots.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Oh, I like that.
I like that a lot.
Yeah, it's a good one.
So are there any other promptsin this self-awareness section?
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Oh yeah, there are a bunch.
There's another one that Ireally like.
It's what's one negative beliefabout myself that I've carried
for years.
What are its origins and is itreally true?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Oh, that's a good one .
I like that.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Right, we all have those limiting beliefs.
You know I'm not good and I'mnot lovable things like that
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
We all have those limiting beliefs.
You know I'm not good and I'mnot lovable things like that.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yes, yes, we all have them.
But this prompt makes youreally examine those beliefs
Like where do they come from?
Are they even true anymore?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Right, because a lot of times those beliefs they're
rooted in, like childhoodexperiences, things people said
to us, messages we absorbed fromsociety.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Exactly yeah, but as adults we can choose whether to
keep carrying those beliefs ornot.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Such a good point.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
And just questioning them, like really questioning
them.
That can be the first step toletting them go.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
It's like you know, you shine a light on a cobweb
and suddenly it doesn't seem sostrong anymore.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Wow, this is really interesting stuff.
I'm already feeling like I'mlearning a lot.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Me too, and we're just getting started.
It's like whoa these promptscan really shift your
perspective.
I know Right, and we've onlyjust started with self-awareness
.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
There's like so much more to explore, so true.
So where do we go next on thisroadmap?
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Well, Penrose's next theme is releasing shame.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
OK, shame, that's a tough one, it is.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I think we all carry some you know stuff.
We regret mistakes we've madeyeah, definitely shame.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
It's universal, you know, everyone experiences it.
And it's powerful, reallypowerful, can keep you stuck,
stuck in the past totally keepsyou from taking risks, can even
mess up your relationships sohow do these prompts help with
that, with the shame?
Well, they kind of guide youtowards self-forgiveness, you
know, accepting those pastmistakes and dealing with that
(05:11):
feeling of not enoughness.
A lot of people struggle withthat, you know, like feeling
like they're not enough.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah that's a big one .
Speaker 2 (05:19):
It is, and one prompt that I think is really helpful
is what's one mistake from mypast that I still hold against
myself?
What would it take for me toforgive myself?
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Oof, that's heavy, it is yeah but it's important,
right?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
you can't move forward if you're always beating
yourself up over past stufftotally, but forgiving yourself.
That's not like yeah, sayingwhat you did was okay no, no,
it's about acknowledging youmade a mistake, learning from it
and letting it go, recognizingyou're human.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
We all mess up sometimes it's like giving
yourself the same grace youwould give a friend.
Exactly, I like that.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
And there's another prompt kind of related to this
Right.
What is one thing about myselfthat I wish no one else would
ever find out?
How has keeping this secretaffected me?
It's about, like, the weight ofsecrets.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Secrets are tough.
It's like they create a wallbetween you and other people.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
They do.
A lot of secrets come fromshame, you know fear of judgment
.
But this prompt it makes youthink about how keeping the
secret might actually be hurtingyou.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Right Like.
Is it affecting yourrelationships, your self-esteem?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, exactly Like.
Is holding on to that secretworth it, or could you actually
be more free if you let it go?
Speaker 1 (06:27):
It's like a cost-benefit analysis for your
secrets.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Kind of and sometimes just acknowledging those
secrets, sharing them withsomeone you trust, a friend or
therapist it can be really,really liberating.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Okay, so we've done self-awareness releasing shame.
What's next?
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Well, once you've kind of unpacked some of those
heavier things, you can start todeal with your fear.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Fear my favorite, some of those heavier things you
can start to deal with yourfear.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Fear my favorite Right.
Everyone loves fear, butseriously.
The next set of prompts is allabout understanding fear, which
I mean.
Fear is a powerful thing.
It can really hold you back.
It totally can.
But these prompts help you seewhat's underneath those fears.
Like what are you truly afraidof, and how is fear keeping you
from living a better life?
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Oh, there's one prompt that's like if fear
wasn't a factor, what's thefirst thing I would change in my
life?
What does this reveal about mypriorities?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
That's a good one.
It cuts through all the noiseand helps you figure out what
really matters, because fear candisguise itself as being
practical or even laziness.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Well, yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But when you get rid of those excuses, what's left?
What do you really want?
Speaker 1 (07:31):
It's about getting clear on your dreams, even if
they're scary.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Exactly.
And there's another prompt howdo I act differently when I'm
afraid compared to when I feelsecure?
What can this reveal about howfear shapes my behavior?
Speaker 1 (07:46):
That's interesting.
It's like we might not evenrealize how much fear is
controlling us until we payattention.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Right, we might become more people pleasing when
we're insecure, or maybe moreaggressive or controlling.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Yeah, that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
It's about becoming aware of those patterns so you
can make better choices insteadof letting fear run the show.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Like taking back control.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Okay, so we faced our fears.
What's the next step on thisshadow work journey?
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Well, once you understand those hitting parts
the shame, fears, beliefs youcan start to embrace your
authentic self.
That's what these next promptsare about Embracing authenticity
.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Authenticity?
That sounds kind ofintimidating.
What if my authentic self islike weird?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
But that's the great part.
Your authentic self is whatmakes you you.
It's about embracing all of itthe good, the bad, the quirky,
and letting go of trying to fitin or please everyone else.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
One prompt that really spoke to me here is
what's a part of me.
I feel I need to hide fromothers, and why do I feel that
way?
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Yeah, it's about those parts of ourselves we keep
hidden, even from people welove.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
And it asks you to think about why.
Why do you feel like you needto hide those parts Exactly?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Is it fear of judgment, rejection?
What are the underlying beliefsdriving that secrecy?
Speaker 1 (08:58):
It's like those parts of ourselves we've decided are
unacceptable or unlovable.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Right.
But this prompt asks you tothink are those beliefs actually
true or have you just beentaught to believe that?
Speaker 1 (09:08):
It's about challenging those old beliefs.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Yes, and then there's this one.
What is one small way I canbegin showing up as my truest
self today, even if it'suncomfortable?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
It's about taking small steps toward authenticity,
even if it feels a little scary.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Exactly.
Maybe it's wearing that outfityou love, but are too afraid to
wear out or speaking up in ameeting even though you're
nervous.
Little acts of courage, youknow they help you step into
your power.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
I like that.
So, as we're embracingauthenticity, we also need
self-compassion.
Right?
That's the last set of prompts.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Right.
Self-compassion is so important, especially when you're doing
this kind of inner work.
It's about treating yourselfwith kindness and understanding,
like you would a friend.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Totally.
There's a prompt that says whatare my strengths and how often
do I acknowledge them, versusfocusing on my flaws.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
That's a good one.
We're so hard on ourselves,always focusing on what we need
to improve, but this reminds youto celebrate your
accomplishments.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Appreciate your talents.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Exactly.
It's about shifting fromself-criticism to
self-appreciation.
What are you good at?
What are you proud of?
What makes you happy?
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Yeah, those are the things to to celebrate and then
there's this one.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
If I could send a message to my past self, what
words of compassion andencouragement would I share?
That one gives me?
Every time it's about offeringyourself the same kindness you'd
offer your younger self, youknow, with everything you know.
Now, what would you say toreassure them, comfort them?
Speaker 1 (10:35):
encourage them.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Yes it's about realizing we've all been through
tough stuff, we've all messedup, but we're all worthy of love
and acceptance, even when wefall short I like that a lot and
it leads us to this what wouldmy life look like if I treated
myself with the same kindnessand understanding that I offer
to others?
Speaker 1 (10:54):
wow, that's a big one it is.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
But imagine if we were all as kind to ourselves as
we are to the people we love.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
It would be a different world.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
It would be A world with more compassion, more
forgiveness, more joy.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
And that sounds like a world worth striving for.
Wow, we've covered a lot,haven't we?
And it's heavy stuff.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
But it feels like we've just scratched the surface
.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Yeah, lot, haven't we .
And it's heavy stuff.
Yeah, but it feels like we'vejust scratched the surface.
Yeah, it's true, there's alwaysmore to learn about the shadow
self.
But you know, there's one thingthat keeps coming up for me.
What's that?
Self-acceptance.
It seems like that's at thecore of all this shadow work.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Really.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yeah, I think so.
Like, whether you're facingshame or fear, or trying to be
more authentic, it all comesback to accepting yourself.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Makes sense, like accepting those parts of
yourself that you've mayberejected before, and seeing them
as part of who you are, notjust flaws.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Exactly Like.
There's a prompt in theself-compassion section that
says what would it mean to letgo of shame and accept my flaws
as part of my unique self?
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
It makes you rethink what a flaw even is.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Right, like maybe those flaws are just what make
you you, what makes youdifferent.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Exactly, and when you can embrace those parts of
yourself, you can be moreauthentic, more confident
because you're not hidinganymore.
Right, and that can lead tobetter relationships too Right,
when you can let people see thereal you.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
That makes sense.
It's like you're not afraid tobe vulnerable anymore there's a
prompt about that too.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
What's one thing I would say to a friend who feels
shame about something similar tomy own experience?
How can I extend that kindnessto myself?
Speaker 1 (12:27):
oh yeah, that's a good one it reminds you that
everyone struggles.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
We all need compassion yeah, it's like
building a more supportive worldfor yourself and for others
exactly, exactly, and that'swhat I love about shadow work
it's personal growth, but it'salso about spreading compassion
and acceptance.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Okay, so before we wrap up, were there any other
prompts that really stood out toyou?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Oh yeah, there was one.
In what ways can I create morespace for self-compassion in my
daily life?
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Well, that's a good one.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Because it's easy to forget about self-care when life
gets busy.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Yeah, totally.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
But self-compassion isn't a luxury, it's essential.
It's those little things you doevery day to take care of
yourself.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Like taking time to meditate or journaling.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Yeah, or setting boundaries with people who drain
your energy.
It's about making yourself apriority.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
So true, it's like giving yourself permission to
rest.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
To recharge.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
And remember, self-compassion is a practice.
It's something you work on overtime, All right.
So as we wrap up this deep diveinto the shadow self, what's
one thing you hope listenerstake away?
Speaker 2 (13:28):
I hope they remember that exploring the shadow self
isn't about negativity.
It's about understandingyourself better so you can be
more whole, more authentic.
And that journey yeah, it canbe tough, but it's so worth it.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Well said.
And for anyone listening whowants to dive deeper, check out
Clara Penrose's full list of 50prompts on the Listallion
website.
You might be surprised by whatyou discover.
And remember be kind toyourself.
This is a journey and with that, happy exploring.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes present: Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial
Introducing… Aubrey O’Day Diddy’s former protege, television personality, platinum selling music artist, Danity Kane alum Aubrey O’Day joins veteran journalists Amy Robach and TJ Holmes to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. Join them throughout the trial as they discuss, debate, and dissect every detail, every aspect of the proceedings. Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise, as only she is qualified to do given her first-hand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band, as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be the opposite of the glitz and glamour. Listen throughout every minute of the trial, for this exclusive coverage. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes present Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial, an iHeartRadio podcast.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.