“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” – Carl Jung.

What if I told you the scariest creature you might encounter this Halloween is actually lurking within you? Before you panic, I’m not talking about an evil twin or anything straight out of a horror movie.

I’m talking about your shadow self—the hidden parts of your personality that you’ve tucked away, like skeletons in your emotional closet.

The best part?

Understanding the 7 ways to spot your shadow self can lead to some serious self awareness and growth. Most importantly, manifesting your desires can be completely impossible if you do not understand this part of yourself.

So grab your pumpkin spice latte, and let’s take a journey into your personal haunted house. It’s time to go over the 7 ways to spot your shadow self.

Confronting the hidden parts of ourselves is often called the shadow self.

This concept, introduced by the psychotherapist, Carl Jung, refers to the unconscious aspects of our personality that we suppress or deny.

These parts of our unconscious self end up being rejected because they don’t fit the image of who we think we “should” be.

The shadow self encompasses traits, emotions, and desires we don’t consciously accept—things we see as “bad,” “ugly,” or “weak.” 

However, confronting and integrating the shadow self is a healing process that brings self-awareness, wholeness, and personal growth.

One of the 7 ways to spot your shadow self is to identify triggers, or things that provoke strong negative emotional reactions out of you. Many self reflection questions can help you develop the awareness to understand your triggers. A few example self awareness questions that can be helpful are:

• What makes you feel angry, jealous, or defensive? Your shadow can emerge when others display qualities or behaviors that you unconsciously possess but have denied in yourself.
• Reflect on your judgments of others. When you harshly criticize someone, ask yourself if this judgment might reflect something you dislike or disown about yourself.

Example: If someone’s arrogance really bothers you, it could be a sign that you deny your own confidence or have unresolved issues around self-worth.

Sometimes your shadow self slips out through extreme reactions or behaviors that seem unlike your usual self. Do you have moments where you “lose control” or act out in ways you regret?

Do you overreact to certain situations, behaving disproportionately to the trigger?

Example: If you find yourself exploding over minor annoyances, it could be your shadow surfacing, showing unresolved anger or unmet needs that you’ve been ignoring.

Another one of the 7 ways to spot your shadow self is by observing your body language. The body often reveals what your mind is trying to hide.

Physical tension, discomfort, or recurring ailments can sometimes be linked to repressed emotions and shadow aspects.

Do you feel anxious or uncomfortable in certain situations? Do you experience tightness in your chest, stomach, or throat when faced with conflict or stress?

Example: A clenched jaw or tight shoulders in stressful situations could indicate repressed anger or frustration.

The shadow self often manifests in behaviors that sabotage your success and happiness. Do you procrastinate or avoid certain tasks? This might be your shadow acting out fear of failure or fear of success.

Do you engage in unhealthy habits despite knowing they’re harmful? Addictive behaviors, overeating, or staying in toxic relationships can be signs of unresolved shadow issues. 

Example: If you always find an excuse to avoid new opportunities, it could reflect a shadow fear of inadequacy or unworthiness

The shadow can contain desires or impulses that society or your upbringing has taught you to suppress. Do you have secret fantasies or impulses that you consider “wrong”? Are there things you want but feel ashamed to admit?

Example: If you’ve been raised to always be “nice” and avoid conflict, you might suppress natural feelings of anger, and these can later emerge in passive-aggressive behavior or sudden bursts of rage.

Dreams can be a window into the unconscious, where your shadow often resides. Jung believed that dreams offer symbols and metaphors that reveal the hidden parts of ourselves. What recurring themes or symbols appear in your dreams? Are there frightening or uncomfortable figures in your dreams?

Example: If you often dream of being chased or hiding from something, it could represent a part of yourself that you are avoiding or rejecting.

The last piece of the 7 ways to spot your shadow self is listening to feedback that you get from others. Sometimes, those around us can see our shadow more clearly than we can because we are too bias and destined to shield our ego.

But, if you hear similar feedback from multiple people, it might be worth reflecting on. What do others say about your behavior, especially in tense situations? Do friends or loved ones point out patterns you’re not aware of?

Example: If people constantly tell you that you seem closed off or avoidant, it could be a sign that you are repressing emotions or vulnerabilities

So let’s say you spotted all the 7 ways to spot your shadow self but you decide to ignore it. Maybe you feel all is good and the 7 ways to spot your shadow self can all be pushed aside. However, this is far from true.

If you ignore the 7 ways to spot your shadow self, a few things could manifest.

Suppressing emotions or unresolved issues can lead to chronic stress and anxiety as you fight against parts of yourself that need expression.

By ignoring your shadow, you can subconsciously manifest outcomes rooted in fear, insecurity, or unresolved pain. Instead of attracting what you consciously want, you draw in what you unconsciously fear or resist.

Manifestation requires clarity and a high vibration, but unresolved inner conflicts from the shadow self create energetic blocks, hindering your ability to attract what you desire.

Unaddressed aspects of your shadow can project onto others, leading to conflict, misunderstandings, or emotionally distant relationships. Poor relationships may also develop due to a lack of authenticity. 

By rejecting parts of yourself, you may develop deep feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, or low confidence.

Undestanding the 7 ways to spot your shadow self helps you gain freedom from the unconscious patterns that limit you. Unlike haunted houses, confronting your shadow self can lead to some serious personal growth (and no jump scares involved!).

It’s time to embrace your shadows with curiosity, courage, and compassion. In doing so, you’ll find that your darkness holds immense potential for growth, healing, and transformation.

By identifying these subtle clues and addressing them in a healthy way you can start to uncover and integrate your shadow self, bringing more awareness and balance into your life.

Working with your shadow helps you become more whole and helps you get closer to manifestation, as you learn to accept and heal the parts of yourself that you have been ignoring or suppressing.