Shadow Work Prompts for Insecurity

We all suffer from insecurity in one way or another; some more than most. This can be an extremely challenging issue to deal with, as most people don't realise it all stems from past trauma.

Practicing shadow work prompts can help you to discover where the root cause of your insecurity lies and help you heal from these issues and transform your life. Let’s get into how. 

_{What is the Shadow Self?}

Your shadow self is simply all of the aspects of your personality that are unconscious. They’re the deepest parts of you that you either repress or deny. 

These emotions can range from your desires, needs, fears or shame to your deepest insecurities. The shadow self is not inherently negative, we all have this shadow, it’s just a part of you that until recognised can cause a lot of emotional and physical pain.

When you’re suffering from crippling insecurity, shadow work prompts can help you to integrate and embrace your shadow self and through this awareness gain profound personal growth and spiritual evolution. 

_{What are Shadow Work Prompts?} 

When you do shadow work prompts, you’re asking yourself deep questions that will reveal things about yourself that you hadn’t even noticed.

It’s a tool designed to bring the shadow self to your conscious awareness. As you become more aware of where your behaviour comes from you start to self-reflect and confront all of you hidden insecurities and fears. 

Engaging in shadow work prompts offers a transformative journey of self-discovery, healing, and self-acceptance.

_{Signs that You Are Dealing with Insecurity}

Insecurities can manifest in various ways, affecting our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Here are some common signs that indicate you might be dealing with insecurity:

• You constantly doubt yourself and your decisions
• Your mind is filled with negative self thought
• You compare yourself to others and feel lesser than them
• You seek validation and approval
• You have a fear of failure which leads to perfectionism
• You have difficult asserting boundaries and saying no 
• You avoid taking risks for fear of judgment
• You self-criticize but are sensitive to criticism from others 
• You don’t feel worthy of love or success
• You overcompensate for your flaws or weaknesses
• You have social anxiety and fear of rejection 

_{Shadow Work Prompts for Insecurity}

Remember that embarking on the shadow work journey can be quite emotionally taxing. Be sure to do this when you have some time to yourself and can put all of your energy and focus into answering these questions. 

Note: Feel free to choose and adapt the prompts that resonate with you, answering them in a journal for the best results. 

1. Think back to your childhood, who was your hero? As an adult how do you perceive this person?
2. When was the first time you felt insecurity as a child? Can you remember the moment when you suddenly felt self conscious? What triggered this? 
3. When was the first time you felt let down as a child? Do you remember what happened? How did this affect the way you accepted help or love?
4. What were the belief systems that your parents/guardians had growing up? Do you believe in the same things? How are you the same/different?
5. What beliefs were pushed on you as a child that you resent as an adult? Do you think this affects your behaviour? 
6. When you’re feeling insecure do you engage in self-sabotaging behaviors? What do you do? 
7. Can you identify any underlying beliefs or assumptions that contribute to your insecurities? (i.e. this is too difficult? I’ll never make it)
8. Do your insecurities stop you from engaging in certain things that you want to do? What are these things and why do you avoid them?
9. Are there any external influences (social media, cultural expectations, parental pressure) that contribute to your feelings of insecurity?
10. Do you compare yourself to others? Why do you do this? How does this make you feel?
11. Do you have high expectations for yourself? When you fail, how do you react? Why do you think you react like this? 
12. Do your insecurities affect your personal relationships? Do you find it hard to trust and connect with others as a result? What’s an example of this? 
13. Is your mind filled with negative self-talk or critical inner voices that amplify your insecurities? How do you speak to yourself? Why? 
14. Have you missed out on pursuing anything because of these feelings? What did you miss out on? How can you try again? 
15. Do you think your insecurities are rooted in fear? What fears trigger you? What are you afraid of?
16. Do you feel your insecurities as physical sensations? What kind of symptoms show up in your body when you’re feeling insecure?
17. Do you know anyone that is insecure but manages to live their best life? What lessons can you learn from them?
18. How do you feel when someone gives you compliments? Can you easily take them on board or do you get defensive? Why?
19. How do your insecurities affect your ability to take risks or step out of your comfort zone?
20. Do you have recurring mental thought patterns that reinforce your insecurity? What are they and how can you reframe them? 
21. Can you link any fear, shame or guilt to your insecurities? What is the trigger for these emotions? 
22. How do you perceive yourself? Is this true? Do you think others perceive in this way?
23. When you meet someone new, what do you think they think of you? How do they perceive you? Why? 
24. Do you feel pressure from any societal expectations based on age, culture, gender? How do these align with your personal values? 
25. Can you set clear boundaries? When you’ve tried in the past has it worked out or have you struggled with this? Why? 
26. Can you identify any behavior that you would consider toxic or self-sabotaging? Why do you engage in this behavior? 
27. Do you downplay your successes and focus on your failures? Why do you feel like you do this? 
28. How possible do you think change is? Do you have hope that you can change or do you feel like this is just how you are? Why is that? 
29. Write down 5 positive things about your personality 
30. Write down 5 positive things about your physical appearance
31. Are you able to be vulnerable and trust others? Why/Why not?
32. Can you recall any instances where you projected your insecurities onto others? How did it impact your relationships?
33. How do your insecurities affect your ability to embrace change and adapt to new situations?

_{Final Thoughts:}

If you’ve made it this far congratulations! Doing your shadow work prompts is an emotionally taxing but ultimately liberating experience. It takes courage to be self-reflective and you’ve done an amazing job!
Remember self-acceptance and healing is a journey, this isn’t a one time fix all type of situation. Keep asking yourself the tough questions and reflecting on your behavior to make the changes you need to transform your life. You’ve taken a huge step here today and you should be proud of yourself!