I have danced with chronic shame for decades.
It’s familiar.
My journey from less shame to more love had lots of support.
The first significant transition was when I started to identify shame. Prior to that it was just how I was and I had no sense of something otherwise. Depressed on a couch certain that turning my cats loose on the street would be better than living with me - (just one example)
Eventually, a metaphor arose: The Enchanted Shame Forrest. . .
a place where I would unknowingly wander into.
Then the awareness would come,
but I was already soooo deep in the forest,
convinced how shitty I was,
seeing everything I was or I had done as evidence for how shitty I was.
I was enchanted by the shame demons of the Enchanted Shame Forest.
A helpless victim of shame.
Weepy and needing to hide from the world and friends.
It could take weeks to incrementally work my way back out.
The path into the Enchanted Shame Forest was well worn, probably started by my ancestors.
A way to make myself smaller and protect myself.
Then, with help of a skilled practitioners, I started to learn:
“I am shaming myself"
ugh, this was challenging to accept.
I was angry and defensive.
BUT, ultimately this was a HUGE gift.
Like a golden key that unlocked the prison of victimhood and helplessness.
If I was doing this to myself, I could stop doing it and make another choice.
Incrementally, one small courageous act of choice and acton after another, I was stepping into empowerment and out of victimhood.
Today, I can recognize when I’m headed to the Enchanted Shame Forest, long before I'm lost in it’s depths. . .
Lots of support and devotion to practices which created inner awareness, and devotion to cultivating the skills needed in order to recognize, stop, and make a new choice.
Today I live much more of my time in the quality of Love than in the quality of shame.
The Journey and work of awareness, skill building, and commitment to overcome the compelling draw of the familiarity of shame has been a gift.
What is familiar can feel “comfortable” even if it no longer serves life.
When I see others caught in shame, self-condemnation, or un-worthiness,
I feel great compassion.
AND, I KNOW it IS possible to escape these ways of being that have been handed down to us.
I KNOW it is totally possible to move away from what is painful and familiar into something so much more joyful and life-giving.
Seek out supportive communities and practitioners.
You can do this too!
Call on your inner strength and resilience - it’s there and it’s your birthright!
And, please know I am available to accompany and support you or others on your courageous journeys into more LOVE and less shame.
I bring a toolbox of energetic support, skills and practices to
liberate yourself!!
Your Liberation is a GIFT to You, Your Loved Ones AND the World!
It’s familiar.
My journey from less shame to more love had lots of support.
The first significant transition was when I started to identify shame. Prior to that it was just how I was and I had no sense of something otherwise. Depressed on a couch certain that turning my cats loose on the street would be better than living with me - (just one example)
Eventually, a metaphor arose: The Enchanted Shame Forrest. . .
a place where I would unknowingly wander into.
Then the awareness would come,
but I was already soooo deep in the forest,
convinced how shitty I was,
seeing everything I was or I had done as evidence for how shitty I was.
I was enchanted by the shame demons of the Enchanted Shame Forest.
A helpless victim of shame.
Weepy and needing to hide from the world and friends.
It could take weeks to incrementally work my way back out.
The path into the Enchanted Shame Forest was well worn, probably started by my ancestors.
A way to make myself smaller and protect myself.
Then, with help of a skilled practitioners, I started to learn:
“I am shaming myself"
ugh, this was challenging to accept.
I was angry and defensive.
BUT, ultimately this was a HUGE gift.
Like a golden key that unlocked the prison of victimhood and helplessness.
If I was doing this to myself, I could stop doing it and make another choice.
Incrementally, one small courageous act of choice and acton after another, I was stepping into empowerment and out of victimhood.
Today, I can recognize when I’m headed to the Enchanted Shame Forest, long before I'm lost in it’s depths. . .
Lots of support and devotion to practices which created inner awareness, and devotion to cultivating the skills needed in order to recognize, stop, and make a new choice.
Today I live much more of my time in the quality of Love than in the quality of shame.
The Journey and work of awareness, skill building, and commitment to overcome the compelling draw of the familiarity of shame has been a gift.
What is familiar can feel “comfortable” even if it no longer serves life.
When I see others caught in shame, self-condemnation, or un-worthiness,
I feel great compassion.
AND, I KNOW it IS possible to escape these ways of being that have been handed down to us.
I KNOW it is totally possible to move away from what is painful and familiar into something so much more joyful and life-giving.
Seek out supportive communities and practitioners.
You can do this too!
Call on your inner strength and resilience - it’s there and it’s your birthright!
And, please know I am available to accompany and support you or others on your courageous journeys into more LOVE and less shame.
I bring a toolbox of energetic support, skills and practices to
liberate yourself!!
Your Liberation is a GIFT to You, Your Loved Ones AND the World!
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