One of my favorite stories is told by Jesus in Luke 15:11-32, “The Prodigal Son.” Before continuing, I invite you to follow the link below; enjoy the story. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+15%3A11-32&version=NIV&interface=print This parable depicts the ultimate example of a loving father. One who, by the standards of most, had every right to reject his son and shame
Last week we defined shame and made the important distinction between shame and guilt. The next step is identifying shame and its origin. Unhealthy, prolonged feelings of shame, cause us to deny and therefore hide. Unwilling to accept the feeling of shame, we repress the message for corrective action. Prolonged denial evolves into secret avoidance.
If shame were somehow magically banished from this world, I might not have a counseling practice. For most of my clients, at some point during the process of therapy, we eventually circle back to shame and its lifelong effects. Dealing with shame is vital to one’s emotional health. A soundbite I repeat often in an