
30/09/2023
Shame is a gripping emotion we have all experienced at one time or another. And some more than others. It can paralyze us from doing things we want to do. And our thoughts are usually condemning. In my opinion, shame is one of the biggest road blocks to growth.
Why? Shame is an inhibitory emotion. Meaning it keeps us cut off from our core emotions. We move to shame when core emotions like sadness, anger, fear etc. are not acceptable emotions to express. Usually in childhood we’ve learned rules around different core emotions - “suck it up”; “don’t be such a baby”; “you’re being overly dramatic go to your room”. You know those rules.
So in order to remain socially connected to those we love or interact with we learn to stuff those core emotions and choose a safer way to deal with the feelings going on inside. Shame can show up here. It can sound like “why am I so weak”; “stop being so bloody sensitive”; “you’re not worthy”; “who do you think you are to have these emotions”! We withdraw, isolate, self-sabotage as a way to defend against the gripping sensations of shame and the inner critic goes to town on your self-worth.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Emotions are universal and are not under our conscious control. They are energy in motion reacting to our senses, the outside world and our thoughts. This energy is meant to move through us. Therefore, emotions just are. We can’t control emotion we can control how we respond.
Undoing the rules society has made around emoting is a way to heal inhibitory emotions like shame. In my opinion, one of the required tools to do any kind of emotional repair is self compassion. The voice that ultimately says “you are worthy or your existence”; “you are valuable to the world”.
To explore self compassion more here is one of my favourite resource web-sites from Kristen Neff: https://self-compassion.org/
Keep growing 🌱