30 Steps Toward Healing – Step 12: Overcoming Shame

“Shame is a soul eating emotion.”  Carl Jung
Shame is quite different to guilt and other emotions because it is buried a lot deeper and is more poisonous.  While guilt comes from something we have or haven’t done, shame stems from the feeling that we are bad.  It is about us, not our actions, which makes it far more personal and harmful.  Shame is unhealthy and can prevent us from living a full and healthy life.

Shame, like guilt, tends to be a lasting state rather than a temporary emotion and it threatens to undermine our confidence and becomes harmful to our healing.

The only way to address shame is to truly understand that what has happened is not because of who we are.  Whether the loss happens unexpectedly or because of a medial decision, we must reach a place where we fully understand that it was not within our control.

Action: Shame can most easily be overcome by sharing openly how you are feeling with someone you trust. Shame is most dangerous when kept secret so challenge yourself to speak to someone about the thing you are most ashamed of.