12 Shadow Work Prompts for Letting Go
Do you ever feel like you’re holding on to things that no longer serve you, but for some reason, you can’t seem to let them go? I’ve been there. Actually, I’m still there some days.
These 12 shadow work prompts for letting go can help you if you’re a struggling momma like me.
As an empath, I’ve always felt things deeply, not just for myself but for everyone around me. Throw in some unresolved past traumas, trying to be a good wife, and being a momma to little ones, and it gets overwhelming.
There were days when I didn’t know who I was anymore. I was so busy caring for others that I lost touch with the most important person: me.
Letting go isn’t something you can just “decide” to do. It’s a process. And, to be honest, it’s a messy one. For me, shadow work became a lifeline — a way to dig into the parts of myself that I’d buried because they were too painful or too hard to face. But it’s been worth it.
I want to share some shadow work prompts for letting go that have helped me along the way. Maybe they’ll help you, too.
If you’re worried about shadow work being something scary or dark, have a look at this blog post: Is Shadow Work Evil?
Now, ready to jump into it already, keep reading.
1. What emotions am I running from?
I used to think I had to be strong all the time. That’s what good moms and good wives do, right? But avoiding my feelings, especially the difficult ones like anger and sadness, just made them build up until I couldn’t ignore them anymore.
What are the feelings you push aside? Fear? Shame? Loneliness? Sit with them. They have something to tell you.
2. What’s something from my past I’m still clinging to?
We all hold on to things, even if we know we shouldn’t. Maybe it’s an old relationship, a hurtful comment, or a failure we can’t shake. For me, it was the belief that I wasn’t doing enough — at home, at work, as a mom, as a wife.
What’s sticking with you? Where do you feel that lingering pull?
3. In what ways have I abandoned myself to please others?
This one hit me hard. How many times have I put everyone else’s needs first, leaving myself running on empty? More than I can count. And it’s not just about big sacrifices; sometimes, it’s the little things — not speaking up when I should, saying “yes” when I wanted to say “no.” Have you been there too?
4. What fear is holding me back from loving myself fully?
I spent so long being afraid of failing that I didn’t realize I was holding myself back from the things that could make me happiest. What are you afraid of? Rejection? Disappointment?
What if, instead of fearing failure, we started to fear missing out on the life we deserve?
5. Who do I need to forgive? (And can I forgive myself, too?)
I’ve learned that forgiveness isn’t about letting someone else off the hook; it’s about releasing the hold they have on you. But here’s the hard part: sometimes, the person I needed to forgive most was myself — for all the times I wasn’t kind to me.
Is there someone you need to forgive? Maybe it’s you.
6. What beliefs about myself no longer serve me?
I used to believe that if I wasn’t perfect, I was failing. (Perfectionism is a hard habit to break.) But the more I leaned into shadow work, the more I realized how damaging that belief was.
What outdated beliefs are you still carrying? Maybe it’s time to let them go.
7. What parts of me am I ready to reclaim?
Somewhere along the way, I lost parts of myself. The fun, carefree version of me got pushed aside for the “responsible” version. But we don’t have to choose one over the other.
What parts of you have been forgotten or set aside? What do you want to bring back into your life?
8. How has my inner critic shaped my reality?
I don’t know about you, but my inner critic used to have a front-row seat in my life. Constantly judging and picking apart every little thing I did, or didn’t do. It was exhausting. That voice often told me I wasn’t enough, that I had to do more, be more, give more.
It took time for me to realize that voice wasn’t always telling the truth.
It was a reflection of my own insecurities.
Does your inner critic hold too much power in your life? Try naming it — yes, give that voice a name. It helps you distance yourself from it and see it for what it is: just a voice, not a fact.
9. What am I afraid people would see if they knew the real me?
Vulnerability is tough. As an empath, I’ve often tried to be what others needed me to be, instead of just being me. I thought that if people saw my real struggles, they’d think I was weak. But the truth is, those closest to us want to see our real selves.
What would happen if you let down your guard? Who are you when no one is watching, and are you okay with that person?
10. How have I let guilt and shame control my decisions?
Oh, guilt and shame… those two emotions can feel like heavy chains, keeping us from moving forward. I used to feel guilty for everything — not spending enough time with my kids, not being the “perfect” wife, not being available for friends.
The guilt led to decisions that weren’t really in my best interest. Instead of setting boundaries, I’d bend over backward to avoid feeling guilty.
What about you? Are you making decisions based on guilt or shame instead of what you truly want?
11. What stories am I telling myself that keep me stuck?
We all have stories we tell ourselves. For a long time, my story was that I didn’t have the time or energy to take care of myself. The truth? I was afraid. Afraid that if I put myself first, everything would fall apart. But that was just a story — one that wasn’t serving me anymore.
What story are you telling yourself that’s keeping you stuck? And what would happen if you changed the narrative?
12. How can I create space for healing in my everyday life?
Healing isn’t something that happens overnight, and it’s not something we can push into a corner and only deal with when we have time. It has to become a part of our daily lives. For me, that meant carving out small moments — even if it was just five minutes in the shower to breathe deeply or a quick walk around the farm to clear my head.
How can you create space for healing? It doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s the small, consistent moments that make the biggest difference.
Why This Matters In Shadow Work Prompts For Letting Go
Look, shadow work isn’t easy. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It’s hard, and it can bring up some stuff you didn’t even know was still there. But here’s the thing: it’s also incredibly freeing.
I can’t even tell you how much lighter I’ve felt since starting this process. It’s like peeling back layers and finding myself again — the real me.
If you’ve been feeling stuck or weighed down, I encourage you to start small. Be kind to yourself. Healing takes time, and it doesn’t happen all at once.
But every step you take is a step toward peace and self-love.
You deserve that. We both do.
Love, Nicole.
