Fear of Judgment Shadow Work
“I finally figured out why I find posting on Instagram so uncomfortable now and why I never want to share anything exciting or creative that I’m working on...”
Triggered Feeling:
Fear of judgment
Acknowledge Your Shadow:
The fear of judgment shadow represents an unconscious or less-integrated aspect of your psyche, characterized by a deep-seated fear of being negatively evaluated, criticized, or rejected by others.
This shadow can form through various life experiences and developmental factors, including:
Early childhood experiences: being bullied in high school or intentionally left out by your siblings
Parental/ caregiver dynamics: having a highly critical or perfectionist mother
Social conditioning: achieving high standards and success in various aspects of life, including academics, career, appearance, and personal relationships.
Media & peer influences: seeing unrealistic beauty standards in magazines
How this fear of judgment manifests:
Perfectionism
Social anxiety
Hypersensitivity
Approval-seeking
Imposter syndrome
It's important to recognize that this shadow is a natural and common aspect of the human psyche.
However, it becomes problematic when it leads to significant distress, limits personal growth, or interferes with one's ability to lead a fulfilling life.
To see a real-time example of this shadow CLICK HERE.
Are You Ready to Integrate this Fear?
In this 90-minute session w/ Jordan, you'll cultivate self-awareness around your shadow, recognize how it may be impeding your success, utilize EFT tapping to reprogram your subconscious mind, and initiate the transformation into a bolder, more confident version of yourself, ready to step into the spotlight!
Steps to Integrate:
The first step in healing this shadow is → awareness.
Were you able to see yourself in the above? If so, how is the fear of judgment impacting your life?
The second step is to identify your → core beliefs.
When did I start feeling this fear of judgment?
What triggers my fear? (posting online, speaking in public, etc.)
What do I believe will happen if I am judged negatively?
Do I hold unrealistic or perfectionist standards for myself?
What stories or narratives do I tell myself about being judged?
How does my fear of judgment impact my behavior, choices, and relationships?
What would it mean to me if I could let go of this fear of judgment?
The third step is to → challenge your negative beliefs.
Ask yourself if your core beliefs are based on evidence, if they serve your well-being, and if they are rational. Often, these beliefs are irrational or overly negative.
How to challenge your negative beliefs:
Your core belief: "I need to be perfect, or people will judge me harshly."
Identify evidence: Ask yourself if there is actual evidence to support this belief. Can you recall specific instances where people judged you severely just for making a mistake?
Consider realistic expectations: Reflect on whether it's realistic or fair to expect perfection from yourself.
Understand the nature of mistakes: Recognize that making mistakes is a natural part of being human. Everyone makes them, and they can be valuable learning experiences. Instead of fearing judgment, consider how you can grow and learn from your mistakes.
Challenge catastrophic thinking: Often, the fear of judgment leads to catastrophic thinking, where you imagine the worst possible outcome. Challenge these catastrophic thoughts by asking yourself what's the worst that could happen if someone did judge you.
Set realistic goals: Shift your focus from perfection to setting realistic and achievable goals. Break tasks into smaller steps and celebrate your progress, even if you don't achieve perfection.
Reframe the belief: Replace the old belief with a more balanced and positive one, such as "I don't have to be perfect to be valued and accepted by others" or "My worth is not determined by my ability to be flawless."
Lastly, in order to heal this shadow you need → subconscious reprogramming.
My preferred method of subconscious reprogramming for this shadow is EFT tapping. This is a technique that combines tapping on specific acupressure points with affirmations.
It can be effective in reducing the emotional intensity of fears and phobias, including the fear of judgment. Do you need this? Book an EFT Tapping session with me!
Remember your greatest gifts are often within your shadows, who could you be without this paralyzing fear of being judged?
Until next week,
Jordan
