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Lorwen C Nagle, PhD

@LORWEN108

Sep 10, 2025 • 13 tweets • 4 min read • Read on X

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Why high achievers are trapped in Jung’s Shadow—
and how it's KILLING their creativity.

Here are 5 steps to see if you're stuck in the Shadow...
[And how to reverse it]. 🧵

The Shadow is your exiled part of you.

It's your:

• Anger
• Desires
• Fears of failure

As a high achiever, you can't escape it without guidance.

You start with understanding your...

#1: Emotional Triggers

You overreact (anger, shame, defensiveness) when others call out traits you secretly disown in yourself.

→ The shadow hides in the intensity of your reaction.

Then, you go deeper and identify your...

#2: Projection Loops

You constantly see in others what you can’t admit about yourself—calling others selfish, lazy, controlling, etc., while avoiding those same qualities in you.

→ Projection is the shadow’s favorite mask.

Then, you recognize your...

#3: Persona Overload

You wear “masks” to be liked or approved—professional mask, spiritual mask, nice-person mask.

→ If you feel exhausted keeping up appearances, the shadow is running the show.

Next, you learn about your...

#4: Repetitive Struggles

You keep attracting the same conflicts, toxic relationships, or failures, even when you try to change.

→ That’s the shadow seeking recognition.

Finally, you discover your...

#5: Disowned Gold

You envy people for qualities you “wish you had”—creativity, boldness, sensuality, power.

→ The shadow doesn’t only hold darkness, it also hides your unlived potential.

Here are my secret steps to work through your Shadow:

1. Notice Your Triggers – Ask: “What does this reaction say about me?”

2. Track Your Projections – Flip your judgments: “Where is this true in my own life?”

3. Name the Mask – Identify the role you play to survive (perfectionist, caretaker, intellectual).

4. Dialog With It – Journal or draw the shadow as a character, then let it “speak.”

5. Integrate the Gold – Ask: “What gift is hidden in this shadow quality?”

Anxiety isn't random.

It’s your Shadow trying to break free.

It’s your soul saying:

“Stop performing. Start listening....and drawing."

I work with CEOs, artists, and doctors to break free of their shadow.

I offer them the rare opportunity to face their Shadow and permanently break free.

Hi, I'm Lorwen Nagle.

I've spent 40 years as a Harvard-trained psychologist, studying consciousness with the Dalai Lama, and helping thousands untangle their minds.

If this thread resonated with you, I explore psychology, philosophy, and personal transformation in my work.

Follow
@Lorwen108
for more insights on the journey to authenticity.

Repost if this helped you. 🙏

As a Ph.D. psychology grad from
@UTAustin a Postdoc from @Harvard
I can help you unlock your mind for greater success.

So, if you feel lost, anxious, or stressed out with your current life, schedule a free discovery call and we'll decode it:
calendly.com/lorwen_consult…

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More from @LORWEN108

Lorwen C Nagle, PhD

@LORWEN108

Feb 8

CO₂ sensitivity is one of the most powerful (and ignored) nervous-system interventions.

But, most people don’t know this system exists.

Here are 7 ways to calm your CO₂ alarm + lower your anxiety (in seconds).🧵
1. Stop “silent overbreathing.”

Most anxious people aren’t breathing too little.

They’re breathing TOO MUCH (fast, shallow, chest-only breathing).

That keeps your chemoreflex on a hair trigger.

Instead:

breathe quieter
breathe lower (belly/ribs)
slow your pace

2. Lengthen your exhale.

This instantly downshifts your nervous system's thread detector.

Slow breathing with longer exhales reduces nervous system anxiety and shift body stress within minutes.

Try:

Inhale 4 seconds → Exhale 6–8 seconds

Do 6 cycles at first.

Read 10 tweets

Lorwen C Nagle, PhD

@LORWEN108

Feb 4

Ernie Hudson is 80 years old.

And he looks stronger than most men half his age.

His secret?

No “get shredded in 30 days"...

Just repeatable systems he’s followed for years:

He basically treats physical fitness like mental fitness:

Small reps.
Daily repetition.
No drama.

And that’s why it lasts decades.

The lesson?

Consistency beats intensity.

A system you can run for 20 years beats a “transformation” you quit in 20 days.

Your body and mind are your responsibility.

Hudson says, "Build habits that compound."

At 30 you call it “fitness.”

At 80 you call it freedom.

Read 9 tweets

Lorwen C Nagle, PhD

@LORWEN108

Feb 3

Anxiety isn’t overthinking.

It’s your brain reacting to uncertainty...
and your soul reaching for freedom.

I condensed Kierkegaard into 4 moves. Use this when anxiety spikes.🧵

At 21, Kierkegaard watched his 5th sibling die.

By 30, he was engaged, famous, and set for a conventional life—

Then he detonated it.

He broke off the engagement.

Rejected the “safe path.”

And wrote the line that explains modern anxiety better than most therapists:

“Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.”

Read 13 tweets

Lorwen C Nagle, PhD

@LORWEN108

Feb 1

David Sinclair is a longevity expert.

But his most underrated “longevity protocol” isn’t supplements.

It’s how he keeps anxiety low in a high-pressure life.

Here's Sinclair's 6-rule system. (you don't want to miss this) 🧵

1. Choose stressors that make you stronger.

Stop lumping all “stress” together.

There are 2 kinds:

1. Biological stress (hormesis) that builds resilience.

2. Psychological stress that grinds you down.

They shouldn’t even share the same word.

2. Schedule “quiet time” like it’s medicine.

Not “vibe” time.
A calendar rule.

Book quiet time daily—so problems don’t hijack your nervous system.

Read 14 tweets

Lorwen C Nagle, PhD

@LORWEN108

Jan 31

Most people aren’t “burned out.”

They’re stuck in always-on stress.

Here are 7 ways to switch it off (without meds) 🧵

1. Stop putting your brain in scatterbrain mode.

When your attention is constantly yanked around, your body stays keyed up.
Even “rest” doesn’t feel restful.

Try this:
Check social 2x/day + 30 minutes phone-free quiet or device-free walking.

2. Get morning light—especially in winter.

Morning light sets your body clock, which stabilizes mood and sleep.

Try this:
10–20 minutes outside early (no sunglasses if you can).

Read 11 tweets

Lorwen C Nagle, PhD

@LORWEN108

Jan 28

5 personality traits that predict how you handle stress.

Find yours in 30 seconds (and how to work with it) 🧵

First: the Big 5 are not “labels.”

They’re your nervous system’s default strategy.

When you're aware of your default strategy, you can build on it and let it empower you.

Let's dive in...

1. High Neuroticism = The Threat Sensor

When you're high on neuroticism, you feel everything early, before others. You're very sensitive.

The signs of Neuroticism are:

→ overthinking
→ health worries
→ tension & rumination
→ The inner feeling: “I can’t turn this off.”

Quick fixes:

Regulate first, analyze second.
One sure-fire way to regulate is to walk outdoors without devices.
You want to downshift your alarm system. Walking is primo.