In this episode of Inside the Pickle Jar, I take a quiet little walk into something called shadow work. It’s a tender kind of inner exploration, inspired by the ideas of Carl Jung. I talk about how easy it is for any of us to get stuck inside our own heads especially when we’re carrying old beliefs about who we’re supposed to be, or when we’re wearing a “just‑fine” mask for the world.

I share how each of us has a shadow self... those feelings, memories, and traits we’ve tucked away because they felt too big, too loud, or too confusing at the time. And just like a neighbor who’s been waiting patiently on the porch, that shadow part of us is always hoping we’ll open the door and say, “I see you. You matter too.”

Together, we explore how understanding these hidden parts can help us grow into kinder, more authentic versions of ourselves. It’s gentle work. Brave work. And it’s something we don’t have to do alone.

Takeaways —

• Shadow work is a way of turning toward the feelings we’ve tucked away.
• The persona, that social mask we wear, can sometimes keep us from being our truest selves.
• Learning about the ego helps us understand why we react the way we do.
• Being authentic means welcoming every part of who we are, even the parts we’re still getting to know.
• Many of our inner conflicts come from the tug‑of‑war between who we think we should be and who we really are.
• Shadow work invites us to gently integrate those forgotten or hidden traits so we can feel more whole.

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