Shame

Shame, we all have it, and yet no one likes to talk about!  However, it only gets worse when it remains hidden away. So, today it is time to shine a light upon your shame.

Shame is the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing you are flawed and therefore unworthy of love, belonging, and connection. At its core, shame is rooted in our universal need and desire to be loved. And the truth is, we all carry shame within us. The only people who don’t experience shame are those who lack the capacity for empathy and human connection. And despite shame being a universal emotion, most of us are afraid to talk about it. Sometimes we can feel shame when we say the word “shame.” But the less we talk about it, the more control it has over us.

Today, begin to shine a light upon your shame and expose it for what it is- fear! Today, you can start to rewire your shame filter with new experiences of self-empathy and self-compassion. Today,  understand that you did your best in any situation, and shower yourself with love and compassion, for those situations that you may have just fell apart or generally "screwed" up. It’s scary bringing shame to light, but the minute you allow yourself to do so,   you will step into newfound freedom. The minute you shine a light upon what you feel most shameful about is the moment you begin to heal! Today, accept that you do not need to be fixed. Accept that you deserve love, belonging, and connection. We all do; no matter what has happened in the past, no matter what the future holds. Right now, you deserve and are worthy of love, belonging, and connection. Today, accept your flaws, mistakes, and missteps, forgive yourself, and acknowledge that you deserve all that is good in this life just because you exist. 

Just for today, I release the need to judge or criticize myself.  I am doing the best I can with the knowledge, understanding, and awareness that I have right now. I forgive myself for all past perceived wrongs. I am now free to love myself exactly as I am. I release all shame from the past. I am willing to release it and live in this moment. Life supports me in every way and out of this situation only good will come. And so it is.