👉 Uncomfortable or painful feeling due to recognition or consciousness of one's own impropriety or dishonor or something being exposed that should have been kept private.
Alright class, settle down, let’s talk about “Shame.” It’s a tricky word, a heavy one, and it’s important we understand what it really means. The dictionary gives you a long definition, a mouthful of words – "impropriety," "dishonor," "exposed" - and honestly, that can be a little overwhelming! Let's break it down into something simpler, like a little rhyme: Shame is like a shadow, dark and deep, When you do wrong, or secrets keep. It’s the feeling of regret so true, Knowing what should have been done by you. Essentially, shame comes from realizing we've fallen short. It’s not just about doing something bad – though that certainly plays a part. It’s more about how it makes us feel when we recognize that we've acted in a way that doesn’t align with our values or what we believe is right. Think of it like this: if you break a promise, you might feel disappointed (that's sadness). But if you deliberately and knowingly betray someone’s trust, that can bring on shame. It's an uncomfortable feeling, yes – painful even - because it touches upon our sense of self-worth. It makes us question who we are and how we're behaving. Important Note: Shame is different from guilt. Guilt says "I did something wrong.” Shame whispers “ I am wrong." Guilt can motivate us to make amends; shame can sometimes lead to hiding, withdrawing, and feeling worthless. Now, do you have any questions about this? Let's discuss what might cause feelings of shame, and how we can handle them with kindness towards ourselves.
