The shadows I sat with this week

July 20th — Sitting with everything I've met this week. 

Shadow Week has come to an end, at least on the surface. But if there's one thing this journey reminded me of, it's this: shadow work is never really over. It's not a task you tick off, or a wound you heal once and for all. It's a way of being in relationship with yourself — honest, brave, tender.

This week I've met three of my most persistent shadows: the one that won't stop worrying, the one that abandons me in order to be liked, and the one that wants to keep me invisible. They each look different on the outside, but at the core, they share one root: the fear that being fully myself might cost me love, safety, or belonging.

Some days that fear still wins. But more and more often, I choose to stay with myself anyway. Shadow work isn't about getting rid of those fears, it's about not letting them drive the car. It's about learning how to listen without letting them silence you. To befriend the parts you once pushed away.

These reflections didn't just happen on the page. They were shaped through gentle self-inquiry, the same kind I poured into the Gentle Shadow Journal. This journal was born from my own process. If you've felt the nudge to explore your inner landscape, I hope it can be a soft companion on the way. You don't have to go deep all at once. You can just begin, gently.

I'm not going to lie, this week was intense. Raw. But also necessary. And now, I'm feeling called to softer things again. There's space ahead for lightness, lavender mornings, gentle rituals and maybe a little Greek sun too. Shadow work doesn't always have to be heavy. Sometimes it's just noticing when a part of you gets triggered, and choosing not to shame it.

And once again, the biggest thank you for all your beautiful comments and insights on Instagram. They truly mean the world to me.
It makes my day every time I get a little notification that one of you has shared something from the heart.

Thank you for being here. For reading, feeling, and walking alongside me.
I'd love to hear what shadow you've been sitting with lately. Feel free to join the conversation, your voice is always welcome on the comment section below or @selflavie.

Soft hugs,
Selflavie