The Other Side of Shame

Shame is a heavy topic, a deep abstract emotion that oftentimes we are unwilling and incapable of looking at. It’s like a dark fog that hides in the trenches of our subconscious mind – draining our life force energy and sabotaging our creativity. But I think the very contentment that we are so desperately seeking comes from facing some of this emotion head on. Noticing the tendency to cringe and distract whenever it comes up, and choosing otherwise.

Choosing to listen to the story that it is telling us, watching it and realizing that it is the inner child crying out for help and relief. Giving this child the space that it needs without getting lost in the pull of the story is key. On the other side of this emotion lies tidbits of freedom and clarity.

I do think it’s not something that we can get rid of in one go – small releases over a period of time is more realistic and more importantly, sustainable. I do think our system needs a bit of time to adjust to the changes and increased flow that comes when we let go of the fog. The light that replaces it needs time to adjust to its new home. The neural pathways in our body and brain would have to adapt to new ways of firing and I feel it’s best to allow that process to unfold naturally.