The shadow is not evil. It is not a monster lurking in the corner. It is simply the part of you that you judged, rejected, or left in the dark. Yet, when ignored, it silently drains your energy and keeps you from living the life you long for.
In this week’s episode of Unbox The Podcast, I ask you a direct question: Is your shadow stealing your power?
What is the shadow
The shadow is the collection of aspects of your personality that you hid away to cope. Maybe you learnt it was unsafe to show anger. Or you buried your gifts because you feared being judged. These rejected parts do not disappear. They remain in the unconscious, quietly influencing how you think, feel, and act.
When the shadow is left unacknowledged, it becomes the silent author of your story. It shows up in limiting beliefs like “I am not good enough” or “I must carry it all alone.” The longer you leave it in the dark, the more power it has over your life.
How the shadow feels real
Your body and emotions act out the shadow’s script. A tight chest convinces you that you are not safe. A heavy head repeats that you cannot cope. Waves of guilt whisper that you must have done something wrong.
The body itself is not the problem — it is the stage where the shadow plays out. Emotions then enforce the belief system, making the story feel even more convincing. Soon, you believe the shadow is who you are.
A client’s story
One client of mine always felt exhausted. She told herself, “I must be ill, there’s something wrong with me.” Yet every medical test came back clear.
Her exhaustion was not illness. It was her shadow story of neglect. She had spent years meeting everyone else’s needs while ignoring her own. The resentment and fatigue were her shadow’s way of reinforcing the belief that she was unwell. Only when she recognised the pattern did her energy begin to return.
The trap of shortcuts
When pain or discomfort shows up, we are tempted to take shortcuts: to suppress it, distract ourselves, or even self-diagnose with labels that box us in. But shortcuts never heal. They keep the shadow alive.
True healing does not always need years of work. Sometimes, a small shift in perspective is enough to trigger change.
How to loosen the shadow’s grip
The moment you acknowledge the shadow, its grip weakens. You realise this is just an old story, not the Real You. The body softens. Emotions shift. The mind begins to release it.
The shadow dissolves not through punishment, but through kindness. Ask yourself: Is this really true? Lose the labels, and meet yourself with compassion.
Awareness is only the first step. Unless you act differently, you will only keep propagating the same loop. Choose one action today that contradicts the shadow. If it says “you are not safe,” take one step that proves safety. If it says “you must carry this alone,” ask for help.
One of my mentors once told me: “Face the light, and the shadow always falls behind you.” That wisdom has guided me for decades. You do not need to fight the shadow. You simply need to turn towards the truth of who you are.
Listen to episode 37
In this episode of Unbox The Podcast, I share more about how the shadow plays out in our lives, why it feels so real, and how to shift it with kindness and new action. You will also hear about The Zen Oracle, my upcoming book co-authored with Khaled Bazzi, where the Shadow card reminds us that what we hide is never who we truly are.
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Take the next step
The Real You is not the shadow. The Real You is the one who faces the light and walks free.
If this episode touched you, follow or subscribe to the podcast so you do not miss the next story. And if you would like to go deeper, try my free tool Meet Your Body, available on my website. It will help you understand the stories your body and emotions have been carrying and guide you back to your Real Self.
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