As if leadership wasn’t hard enough, as if being human and navigating life weren’t already challenging, there comes a time to talk about “shadow work” and the “dark night of the soul”. These terms, coined by the father of psychology, Carl Jung, reflect the personal journey of confronting our hidden aspects. Jung himself faced a series of immense personal challenges that forced him to detach from the external world, question his identity and embark on a deep, internal exploration to discover and integrate his own shadow.

Today, I’ve never seen such widespread evidence of this on a collective level. Business owners, leaders and individuals are confronting situation after situation that leave them confused, frustrated, and drained. Revolving doors of employees, constant turnover, and a frustrating sense that nobody is “worth the hire anymore” have become all too common. But here’s the twist—often, it’s not the external circumstances that are the problem; it’s our own shadow causing these repeating themes in our businesses and leadership.

So, what exactly is the “shadow”? It’s the part of ourselves that we keep hidden or avoid. It’s the fears, doubts, insecurities, and unresolved wounds that, when left unaddressed, creep into every corner of our lives. For business owners and leaders, this can manifest as repeated challenges with hiring, communication breakdowns, difficulty in decision-making, or even sabotage in growth and expansion. The issues are external, but their roots are deeply internal.

There’s no quick fix, and honestly, that’s the point. The shadow isn’t something we can “fix” in a traditional sense because it exists for a reason, and it’s truly a gift. It holds our unhealed parts, and while the ego wants to cling to what it knows—familiar patterns, habits, and ways of thinking—the shadow demands we walk into the unknown, and this prompts fear and uncertainty. 

In business, this might mean confronting the fears that have kept you stuck, owning up to mistakes or missed opportunities, or recognizing how your personal insecurities affect your leadership. Are you a control freak because deep down you fear chaos? Do you micromanage because you’re afraid of trusting others? Are you afraid of being fully seen as a leader because vulnerability feels too risky?

Each of these patterns can drive our businesses into the ground if we don’t stop to face them. The “dark night of the soul”, another term linked with shadow work, is a period of intense transformation, often filled with discomfort, confusion, and emotional turmoil. Many leaders face this when their businesses hit a wall, when their methods no longer work, or when the weight of leadership becomes unbearable.

But this is where the magic lies. The shadow requires us to face the discomfort, to sit with what’s difficult, to acknowledge the part of ourselves we’d rather not see. Only by walking through this darkness can we emerge with a clearer sense of purpose, direction, and leadership. The unknown holds the bounty of true meaning and fulfillment.

So, what does this mean for business owners today? It means that the current frustrations you may feel—whether with employees, your market, or your own sense of capability—might be signals from your shadow asking for integration. It’s an invitation to look deeper into the patterns that keep repeating, the relationships that keep failing, and the goals that remain unmet. It’s time to go within.

Leaders who embrace shadow work ultimately step into a more authentic, powerful version of themselves. They lead with more empathy, clarity, and integrity because they’ve faced their own darkness and found their true strength on the other side. By integrating your shadow, you can lead a business that not only thrives but also embodies true meaning and purpose—aligned with who you really are, not just who you think you should be.

Leadership isn’t just about navigating external challenges; it’s about mastering the internal ones. And shadow work is the key to unlocking that mastery. If you’d like to check out the first steps to integration of the shadow, check out my online course page!