Shame is a powerful thought-feeling — sickening in the body, a frenetic rampage of thoughts.

IMO it's one of the most insidious and creative mental patterns, because it attaches so quickly to past shame thoughts and entrenches the debilitating notion that we're inherently bad, wrong, and not enough (or too much).

Worse still, shame is simply the ugly flipside of desiring love, connection, and understanding. How sick is that?

"That's a no from me, dawg."
- Randy Jackson @randyjackson

"Banish the thought, integrate the feeling."
- P.T. Mistlberger @ptmistlberger

*

It's up to you if you want to let your mind run away with you — and sometimes you won't be able to help it.

When you can make that all-important interruption though, when you find yourself with the presence of mind to stop your old mental machinery from running the show — use it.

Stop your old thoughts and keep building your new mental machinery — the one that reminds you that a misstep is an opportunity to get more aligned with who you are at your core, and how you want to live your life and relationships.

MOVE the energy of shame through (and out of) your body — it's not invincible. It will wear out if you shake it up.

Explore the flipside of your shame too — what were you reaching for, and how does that demonstrate your values (regardless of the shameful outcome)? Were you striving for connection, love, or something else?

What were you trying to prove and why?

I'll bet you a nickel you were striving for connection in some way...and that's a beautiful, normal, very human thing.

Congratulations — you're alive!

*

Clearing out your head and energy creates more space for you to see where you are, and where you're directing your energy.

Why would you direct it backwards, into past shame? Bring consciousness to this area of your life and see what shifts for you.

❤️
- S