Contrary to popular belief, shame is an intrinsic state of being that is separate from guilt. When someone says, “I feel so ashamed,” it oftentimes implies the person feels a sense of guilt over something done or said; however, that is not shame. Or, if someone ever said to you, “You should be ashamed of yourself,” that person is typically implying guilt; however, that also is not true shame. The point being: shame and guilt are not the same. In fact, an argument can be made to show that shame is a much greater force than guilt. This 30 day mindfulness program will help you to understand and overcome shame, so that you can start living your best life possible in the present moment.
Depending on a person’s surroundings, culture, and family; some people experience the state of shame more fully than others. But even though you may have been conditioned to live in a state of shame, you are solely responsible for staying in it. In fact, it’s great news that you are solely responsible for experiencing shame; because that means you have the ability to drop it.
As an illustration, think of someone pointing a finger at you and saying, “How dare you! You should be ashamed of yourself.” What is it about the person’s finger, voice, words, and appearance that cause the feeling of shame? The answer is: nothing. If you experience shame in that moment, it’s not because of the finger pointing at you; it’s because you’re already in a state of shame – in other words, you’re using the finger, voice inflection, person’s demeanor and appearance, and words to activate your shame state. The way to overcome shame is to understand, observe, and be mindful of the underlying attachment to the conditioned state of being.
Try the lessons and exercises in our mindfulness guide to overcome shame and start living your best life possible. The time to be free and happy is always…now.
