For over a year, I have been trying to write a post about shame, and I can’t find the right words.
Shame is the belief that we are fundamentally inadequate and incapable of change. While others might seek to shame us, we do have the power to accept or reject that message, especially as we become adults. To shame someone damns them from ever changing. If we accept these messages of shame, we damn ourselves.
If someone was shamed us a child, it might take a long time to unlearn thoughts and emotions rooted in shame. However, I believe that we can overcome shame with the help of supportive friends, counseling, and the power of the atonement. I also believe we can stop shaming others.