Shame is one of the heaviest emotions we can hold because it doesn't just live in the mind.
It roots itself deep in the body.
It's not only the thought of I'm not good enough.
It's often a tightening in the chest,
A hollowing in the belly,
Or a heaviness in the shoulders.
Shame whispers to us that we need to shrink,
Hide,
Or disconnect,
And so the body responds by closing in on itself.
Over time,
This contraction becomes a habit,
Shaping the way we move through the world.
I invite you to pause with me for just a moment.
Gently notice your posture right now.
Oftentimes,
Just hearing about a topic such as shame can cause tension in the body.
Noticing are your shoulders hunched or drawn forward?
Can you slowly roll them back and down,
Allowing your heart space to open just a little bit more?
Your heart remains open.
It's a different shift in energy,
And so just taking a full,
Slow breath in,
And let a long exhale soften the muscles in your face and your jaw.
Notice if you feel connected to your strength and your dignity.
Shame is not who we are.
It's a protective pattern the body learned long ago to help us stay safe and accepted.
So when we bring awareness and compassion to these sensations,
We create space for release,
Reconnection,
And transformation.
So if you would like,
You may place a hand somewhere that feels supportive.
Maybe your chest,
Your belly,
Your back.
And just feel the warmth of your own touch as you breathe gently into that space,
Really softening and sinking into your own loving presence.
You are invited to remain in that space as I read the contemplative questions.
The first one is,
Where in your body do you notice the presence of shame or the impulse to shrink,
To hide,
Or to hold back?
This might feel like tension,
Holding,
Gripping.
Just take a few breaths,
Soften the shoulders and the jaw if any tension arises.
Question number two,
If that part of your body had a voice,
What might it want you to know about what it's been holding?
Breathe into that space,
Notice sensations with curiosity,
Intending to release any judgments,
Any stories.
Question number three,
What small act of compassion or permission could you offer that part of yourself right now?
It could be a deeper breath,
A gentle squeeze of your hand,
A softening in your posture,
A reframe in your self-talk.
When you feel complete with these questions,
Just take a moment to hold your heart,
The space around your heart,
And offer yourself some gratitude for doing the tough stuff,
For facing all of you,
All parts of yourself fully,
For being willing to see the truth.
Remember,
This is a journey to release years and years of the stickiness that comes with shame,
Right?
To journey into the shadow of shame is a practice,
It's not something that will happen overnight.
So if you found this supportive,
You're welcome to follow my profile,
To join me in my live streams,
And to check my profile for when I offer deeper levels of support around these subjects so that we can journey together.
I trust this talk served you well,
And remember,
You are magic,
You are medicine,
And you are worthy just by being.
