Shame is a mighty force

• Do you often leave a conversation feeling like you sounded stupid?
• Do you ever feel guilty for things that are not your fault?
• Do you ever believe you have a fatal flaw that makes you unworthy?

If you answer yes to these questions you may be experiencing shame.

Shame is that feeling of being inherently flawed, damaged and defective; it keeps us prisoners of self-doubt, dampens our spontaneity and drains our life energy. It has many faces with different voices, but they all say that we are deficient and not good enough. Shame can be like a virus that we carry under our skin, dormant some times and activated when our stress levels are high.

HOW TO REDUCE SHAME

Know that you are not the only one. Many people struggle to be free of shame. While shame is a powerful force, it can be managed & its impact diminished.

Compassion is the antidote to shame. Work on developing a compassionate inner voice that is non-judgmental, understands you & your experiences, and is kind & encouraging. This voice allows you to be human with all the quirks, wounds & imperfections that make us part of the human race.