Welcome to our series on shame.  Shame is powerful and if we let it, it can take over.  Maybe you are wondering if you have ever experienced shame, or maybe you are struggling with shame right now and you are wondering how to break free from it.  Most of us have experienced shame at one time or another.  Throughout this blog series we are going to take a closer look at shame, where it comes from and how to deal with it.  

Are you ready?  Let’s dive in together!  

Merriam Webster’s dictionary describes shame as:

(Noun) – “A painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety.”

The English Oxford Dictionary defines shame as:

(Noun) – “A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.  

A loss of respect or esteem; dishonor.  

A person, action, or situation that brings a loss of respect or honor.  

A regrettable or unfortunate situation or action.”

(Verb) – “Make (someone) feel ashamed.  Bring shame to.  Cause (someone) to feel inadequate by outdoing or surpassing them.

What is the first thing that comes in your mind when you just read that?  When I read these definitions, my heart sank.  My heart hurt.  Shame is painful.  It hurts us from the inside out.  Maybe reading that you thought about how shame has affected your life.  

When was the first time you felt shame?  Why were you ashamed?  Have you let go of the shame or does it still linger over you like a dark cloud.  Hopefully throughout this series you can gain a better understanding regarding shame and more specifically your shame if you have any.  Sometimes the first step towards healing is, understanding.  So lets learn and heal together.

If you would like to know when the next blog is posted follow us on Facebook @newhopecounselingservice.  We will keep you posted on there. Find the second part in the series, here.