According to Dr. Brene Brown, shame is the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love or belonging. Most people are unconscious of their shame and act it out throughout their lives. In order to live a life that is healthily connected to other people, one has to be willing to be vulnerable and be open to exposing their authentic self.
How can someone have an authentic relationship if they have not healed and reclaimed the part of themselves they have rejected or deemed unlovable? Well, they can’t! We all have wounds, shame, pain and fear that we must bring from the inner depths of our being and expose to light. How do we do that kind of work? One has to be willing to learn from people who have had the strength and courage to face their own shame through experience and become their authentic selves.
Start today with the belief that you are enough and you are worthy! As you start to believe these two statements your well-being will improve. It can be safe to be vulnerable and you will learn to trust trustable people as you develop your self worth.
“Until you heal the wounds of your past, you are going to bleed.
You can bandage the bleeding with food, with alcohol, with drugs,
with work, with cigarettes, with sex; but eventually, it will ooze
through and stain your life. You must find the strength to open
the wounds, stick your hands inside, pull out the pain that is
holding you in your past, the memories, and make peace with them.”
Iyanla Vanzant