The Ecstasy and Shadow Work of Living Your Passions

By PJ Valenciano

Have you ever uncovered your deepest passions and felt a surge of exhilaration, only to realize that the real journey begins afterward? That was my experience in May 2024, when I took The Passion Test with David Johnston, a certified Passion Test Facilitator. What started as a single session became a year-long exploration of clarity, shadow work, and alignment that continues to this day.

The Passion Test, created by Janet and Chris Attwood, helps you identify your top five passions, the things that bring you the greatest joy and fulfillment, and provides a mirror to see how your life aligns with them. It isn’t about finding the “right” answers; it’s about uncovering your unique truth. As Janet Bray Attwood says, “Passion arises from the heart, and your heart's impulse is more likely to be closer to the truth than your mind's analysis.”

Working with a facilitator like David Johnston brought depth and richness to the process. Each session began with grounding exercises, inviting me to arrive fully and leave the noise of life behind. David’s warmth, generosity, and encouraging smile created a space where I felt seen and supported, while the music that concluded each session left me inspired and reflective.

The Spark: Ecstasy of Discovering Passions

There is a unique exhilaration in discovering what truly lights you up. In my session with David, I named my top five passions:

• Living a joyful, abundant life with my loved ones

• Practicing self-love every single day

• Embracing gratitude and inspiring positive change in the world

In that moment, clarity and purpose flooded through me. The Passion Test illuminated parts of myself I hadn’t fully acknowledged, and my heart felt electrified with recognition. It was a high unlike any other, the feeling that life could align with something far greater than routines or obligations.

Yet, even amidst this euphoria, I sensed that knowing my passions was only the beginning. True alignment required something deeper: Shadow Work.

The Shadow: Integration and Inner Work

Carl Jung described the shadow as the “unconscious parts of ourselves that we reject or deny”, the fears, doubts, habits, and patterns that we hide from both ourselves and the world. Shadow work is the process of facing those hidden parts, embracing them with honesty, and integrating them into conscious awareness.

For me, shadow work meant examining how I had compartmentalized my life, saying yes to every project or request without asking if it truly resonated with me. It meant facing fears, doubts, and old patterns of self-sabotage. I asked myself hard questions:

• Was I living my life for others’ expectations instead of my own truth?

• Had I taken on responsibilities or “rescued” animals to fill inner voids?

• Was I part of communities or projects to grow spiritually, or to escape deeper realities?

These reflections were humbling. Shadow work forced me to let go of old patterns, pause, and make intentional choices. It was sometimes uncomfortable, even painful, but necessary. Through this process, I began to see my passions not as distant goals, but as compasses guiding every decision and action.

From Passion to Real-Life Projects

Palamuti Business

One of the most tangible expressions of living my passions was the Palamuti Storytelling Jewels business. What began as a creative idea became a reflection of my values, vision, and the integration of lessons from The Passion Test now became a reflection of that journey. 

Working on this business was exhilarating, but it also surfaced shadows I had carried for years. Fear, doubt, and tendencies toward overcommitment appeared repeatedly. The project became a real-world laboratory for shadow work: confronting insecurities, perfectionism, and the old habit of self-sabotage. 

Open House: Brick-and-Mortar Lessons

Even the brick-and-mortar retail space we called Open House in La Union offered lessons. Running a physical space brought practical challenges: managing operations, aligning projects with vision, and navigating unexpected obstacles. But it also reflected my passions in the world, creativity, connection, and community-building.

Facing the lessons of Open House meant acknowledging where I had projected expectations, taken on too much, or avoided difficult truths. It required humility, reflection, and embracing growth. The experience showed me that alignment is not just internal; it must extend outward into every venture and interaction.

Website Project-- Fair Simple Life 

Parallel to this, creating this website over three years became another form of integration. More than a platform, it was a mirror of our inner journey. Every choice, content, design, and layout reflected a commitment to live in alignment with our passions. The website became both a creative outlet and a tangible representation of conscious living.

Through these projects, I learned that living your passions is not only about joy; it is also about the discipline of reflection, the patience to align actions with values, and the courage to face the parts of yourself that resist. Ecstasy and shadow work exist side by side, each enhancing the other.

Closing Businesses: Lessons in Alignment

Eventually, I closed both the Palamuti and Open House, as well as shifting focus toward services online. At first, I felt a sense of loss and failure, particularly because external factors like the pandemic influenced these outcomes. But reflecting through the lens of the Passion Test and Shadow Work, I realized these closures were not failures; they were lessons.

I learned that while I loved creating these ventures, the day-to-day operations and pressures often pulled me away from my true passions. I was unconsciously chasing a version of success defined by others, rather than living in accordance with what truly lights me up. Closing these businesses allowed me to redirect my energy, honor my alignment, and focus on projects that resonate deeply with my soul.

This was a reminder: “Success isn’t external, it’s aligned. Joy, ecstasy, and fulfillment come when your energy, actions, and choices resonate with your authentic self and not from meeting outside expectations.

Gratitude and Grounding

Alongside shadow work, Gratitude became my anchor. Amid the highs of passion and the depths of introspection, gratitude allowed me to see the abundance already present: my sanctuary, the love of my animals, the joy of daily routines in our simple countryside home.

Gratitude shifted perspective: abundance isn’t something I HAD TO CHASE; it is something to feel, recognize, and nurture. Shadow work and gratitude, paradoxically, amplify each other. The more you confront your shadows, the more vividly you can experience the joy of alignment.

David Johnston: Guiding Presence

David Johnston’s facilitation brought the Passion Test to life. Beyond helping me uncover my passions, he created a safe space to explore shadows, embrace vulnerability, and discover alignment. His grounding exercises helped me arrive fully in each session, while his smile and encouragement made even the hardest questions feel approachable.

David’s approach is both structured and soulful, blending mindfulness, practical guidance, and warmth in a way that energizes your passions and “solarizes your soul,” as he describes it.

The Ongoing Journey

Even now, revisiting my Passion Test results helps me navigate life when I feel lost, overwhelmed, or tempted by old patterns. They act as a compass, reminding me to return to joy, alignment, and authenticity.

The journey of passion and shadow work is continuous. Ecstatic highs and deep introspection coexist, each enhancing the other. The highs of clarity feel more profound after facing the depths of the shadow. Shadow work becomes more manageable when fueled by the joy of our passions. Together, they create a life of intention, joy, and authentic alignment.

If you feel disconnected, uncertain, or stuck, I encourage you to explore The Passion Test with a certified facilitator like David Johnston. His expertise, compassion, and steady guidance help you uncover your passions, confront your shadows, and step fully into alignment.

As Janet Bray Attwood reminds us, “When you begin to do what you love, what you are truly passionate about, your life will be irresistibly pulled in directions you can’t even begin to imagine.” The Passion Test is more than just a process; it is a practice of living consciously, embracing joy, and cultivating self-awareness.

Embarking on this journey allows you to experience both the ecstasy of your passions and the transformation that comes from shadow work. It is a pathway to a life that is both vibrant and grounded, where gratitude, joy, and purpose coexist in harmony.

Here’s to living passionately, embracing your shadow, and stepping fully into the radiant life you were meant to lead.