Processing Shame Is A Huge Catalyst For Growth.
In the words of Brené Brown: "Shame is a gift. It's how we know what matters."
Shame is an incredibly powerful emotion that can be both debilitating and beneficial. On the one hand, shame can keep us from sharing our stories with others—but on the other hand, it can also compel us to share our stories with others, which is exactly what allows us to heal.
If you've ever felt ashamed of who you are or what you've done, it's time to stop hiding from your shame and start owning who you are and what you've done.
It's time to own your story!
In yoga we practice ahimsa which is truthfulness and astiya which means not stealing. When we hide parts of ourselves or or story we are stealing our gifts away fro the world.
It is our responsibility to courageously own our stories and tell them in a way which is empowering.
Shame is a tricky thing. It's something that can seem like a curse—but it can also be a catalyst for growth.
Why?
Because when you're in the throes of shame, the only thing you want is to hide from everyone and everything. Even the people who are closest to you can't relate because they've never been in that place.
Shame is often accompanied by fear of judgment or rejection, so it seems like there's no way out—and no way to heal. But there is hope!
Here are some ways to share your shame story so you can move toward bravery and empowerment:
Seek out a safe space to share, whether that is a special friend, therapist, or a womens retreat. Make sure they can hold space in a non-judgmental way, as reinforcing the shame story can make it worse.
Soul School Yoga’s SACRED women's retreat is an amazing transformational container for female-identifying persons to go, share, and grow
GET THE FIRST DRAFT OUT THERE. the first draft is always going to be a little rough. Just get the words out, hear them, and see what feels most true. You are not bound to the stories you tell, it’s your story you can re-write it as many times as you want.
Find the silver lining. It’s not toxic positivity to find the good in the bad, it is part of the healing process. Sit with the emotions that come up the first time you share your story, and recognize each time it may feel a little different, this is the process of processing. Eventually, you may get to a point where the story you are telling has gone from victimhood to totally empowered bad-ass!
