Shattering Beliefs & Closing Cycles: Real Shadow Work Begins Here

Shadow work isn’t just a journal prompt—it’s a reckoning with the soul.

It’s the moment you realize that the stories you’ve carried—grief, betrayal, abandonment—have shaped your identity more than your joy ever did. And it’s the brave decision to ask: Who am I without them?

If you’re reading this, I want you to know: I see you. I hear you. I’ve walked this path many times over the last decade, and I’ve guided others through it too. The peaks are glorious. The valleys? They’re real. And they’re necessary.

Today, shadow work is trending. It’s a hashtag, a vibe, a TikTok aesthetic. But real shadow work begins when the cycles close, patterns break and old beliefs shatter. It starts with the journaling, yes—but it deepens into reprogramming. Into choosing a new way of being. Into turning toward the parts of yourself that were once deemed unlovable and saying: I choose to love me as I am.

The Truth About Closing Cycles

When we begin to dismantle the patterns that kept us small—people-pleasing, self-sabotage, over giving, under receiving—we enter unfamiliar terrain. The other side of healing can feel foreign, even scary. But that’s okay. That’s expected. You've never been this version of you before.

In my practice, this is the stage where clients might dig in their heels. Sometimes they want to pause the work - and entirely. And, it's okay to feel this way. There are times I encourage taking a pause in healing work. Pausing is powerful. It allows the shifts to settle—mentally, emotionally, even on a cellular level. But, I will also urge you to keep going if you do chose to take a pause. Take your time to breath, and integrate - but don't let to much time lapse in your progress.

There will be signs you are having success in your shadow work, though they may not feel successful at the onset. Let me offer you three things you’ll likely experience as cycles close, beliefs shatter, and patterns successfully dissolve:

Three Signs You’re in the Deep Work

• Nothing feels the same. Your vision sharpens. You begin to see the pattern you’re shifting reflected everywhere—in relationships, routines, even your environment. It’s disorienting, but it’s proof you’re evolving.
• Life becomes uncomfortable. New routines and beliefs feel awkward at first. You might feel out of sorts. Stay consistent. It’s working. Soon, your new frequency will feel like home.
• People and situations fall away. This one stings. Surface level interests begin to fade. Connections shift. Your circle may shrink. But this is natural. You’re making space for aligned relationships and healthier habits.

Shadow work means unpacking these shifts with radical honesty. It’s about seeing your role in it all—where you abandoned yourself, where you chose short-term comfort over long-term truth. And then, choosing forgiveness. Choosing compassion. Choosing to love the parts of you that were once cast aside.

Companion Affirmation Set: For the Journey Through Shadow Work

To support you through this process, I’ve created a set of affirmations—each one paired with an energetic intention. Use them as journal prompts, breathwork mantras, or daily reminders as you move through the layers of healing.

1. Facing the Shadow

Affirmation: “I am safe to meet the parts of me I once rejected. I welcome my shadow with compassion.”

Energetic Intention: Ground into safety. Let the nervous system know it’s okay to look inward.

2. When Patterns Begin to Shift

Affirmation: “I release the need to feel familiar. I trust the discomfort is proof of my growth.”

Energetic Intention: Honor the awkwardness. Let change feel sacred, not scary.

3. When People and Stories Fall Away

Affirmation: “I allow what no longer serves me to leave with grace. I am worthy of aligned connection.”

Energetic Intention: Soften into the loss. Make space for the new frequency to find you.

4. Choosing New Beliefs

Affirmation: “I choose beliefs that honor my truth. I am the author of my reality.”

Energetic Intention: Activate sovereignty. Let the mind become a sacred tool, not a trap.

5. Emotional Waves

Affirmation: “My feelings are valid, but they are not facts. I choose love over fear in this moment.”

Energetic Intention: Release stored energy. Let emotion move without attaching to old stories.

6. Integration & Pause

Affirmation: “I honor the pause. My healing unfolds in divine timing.”

Energetic Intention: Rest in the void. Let stillness be a portal, not a punishment.

7. Emergence & Embodiment

Affirmation: “I am becoming who I was always meant to be. My light is no longer hidden.”

Energetic Intention: Celebrate the shift. Let embodiment feel joyful, not performative.

Feelings Are Not Facts: Shadow Work on the Emotional Level

This part is tender. As you dive into introspection and forgiveness, heavy emotions surface. Memories may flood in. It’s overwhelming.

Here’s some tough love I received in trauma therapy:  Feelings are not facts.

Sounds pretty harsh, but it's true. How empowering is it to know that you get to choose how you feel in this moment? Even when pain from the past resurfaces, you can choose a new emotional response in the present.

Metaphysically speaking, these old feelings are just stored energy seeking release. The mind is the part of us that wants to attach a story to every sensation—but what if you actively chose not to? What if you simply got curious?

Ask yourself: What do I need right now to surrender this feeling in favor of love?

Next: Let the emotion rise. Let it move. And then choose to release it in the way you feel most inspired. Choose to forgive yourself for what you didn’t know. Choose love.

Final Thoughts: The Power of the Pause

Shadow work is the foundation for new patterns, beliefs, and perspectives. Without it, you miss the chance to truly know yourself.

This work is for you. And choosing to better yourself means reclaiming the parts of you that were forgotten. It’s never too late. And it’s okay to take breaks. Practicing the pause is a powerful way to witness your transformation in real time.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to begin, I invite you to explore this work in community. At Soul and Energy Studio, I offer immersive mentorship through my three-month Souls Goal and Energetic Hygiene packages—designed to support your journey with depth, clarity, and devotion.

You don’t have to do this alone. You were never meant to.

Learn more about these private services and group workshop experiences I have open: