“Do not kill the part of yourself that is cringe, kill the part that cringes.”

To the *worthwhile person* seeing this, your dream is not dead. Don’t allow the past and current pains and hurts stop and define you. You’re more than a conqueror. Rise up and put yourself together. Keep pushing your future depends on it. I wish you all the best in life ❤️.

"I think those who would try to make you feel less than who you are, I think that's the greatest evil." ~Fred Rogers

People always told me I was too sensitive and too emotional and I always thought my empathy and my emotion was a horrible part of me. I am finally doing work which frames this part of me as a strength and it is very liberating. ❤

“If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s.” -Carl Jung

"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." -Oscar Wilde

Im a singer-songwriter and Ive had many people (mainly stuck up relatives) shame me for choosing my career path even though Ive been playing instruments since I was 5 years old and Im very good at it and it comes very natural to me. What feels unnatural is being at a day job around people that are negative and in-polite. Id rather die penniless doing what I loved than living rich doing what I hate. "Find what you love and let it kill you." - Charles Bukowski

This Toxic Shame shappened to me when I moved back home from university during COVID. From the moment I stepped in the door I was a threat to my immediate family. After living on my own for a decade I was independent in thought and attitude and thoroughly myself. Happy, outgoing, witty, friendly. My family saw this as a personal attack on their own insecurities so they started shaming me, turning everything I said into and argument and doubting me at every turn. I didn’t know what to believe because even after all the life I had experienced, I had trouble believing that these people could want me to feel so terribly, even if it was just their subconscious projections onto me as an emotional scapegoat. Now after two years of hard drinking and binge eating, I’m finally starting to realise the effect they have on me. Stay strong my brothers and sisters out there, we will rise again our of the ashes

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” -Carl Jung

To anyone struggling with this, I hope my story inspires you... For the past 15 years I was surpressed by my father's expectations. I lived my life for him. I lived to become who he wanted me to be. It was an inner turmoil that conflicted me to my very core. I felt so ashamed whenever I wanted to stray off the path he set out for me. I know he had my best interests at heart, but I hated that I had no control over my life or my destiny.. I could not be myself. This shame festered into depression and it ate away at my soul. I spent years dwelling in self pity. I was suicidal and I was so close to ending it. As a last ditch effort before I gave up, I told myself that I would travel across the country alone to reflect on my life. I packed my bags and I just began driving... As far as East as I could. I haven't looked back. 4 months passed, and I never went home. I went to a new city, stepped out of my comfort zone where I no longer had the influence of my parents and began anew. Finally, I rediscovered myself.. I began setting my own goals, pursuing my own passions. I finally began to see clearly and I told my father that I am done living in his shadow... It took fifteen years (I'm 28) for me to muster up the courage to put my own happiness first. The burden of his expectations lifted, my depression subsided and it was the first time I have felt truly happy. It was liberating. For anyone else struggling with this, please put your happiness first. Be who you are. Be brave enough to say THIS IS MY LIFE... It is better to be uncomfortable in the one moment you say NO, than live a life full of resentment. Step out of your comfort zone.. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BEGIN CHASING YOUR DREAMS. Just do it, make your dreams come true. I believe in you and its your turn to begin believing in yourself.

This was life changing for me. I ended up crying a lot, this is where my shame comes from. I was a quiet boy who would wander around the playground on his own, being bullied and ignored. I created a mask, I became a clown. I made people laugh and I got friends, I always had to entertain. I'm 31 now and this mask just broke, I don't know who I am and I'm scared to be my authentic self. Your video helped me to stop feeling shame about the little boy I was though. How do you build yourself up after ignoring yourself for most of your life?

“Shyness is nice and shyness can stop you From doing all the things in life you'd like to” -Morrissey

This is so great, I love this channel. When I was 15 I got a job at the local kart circuit, and spent ALL my money on racing for years. My parents told me I was wasting my time and money and that I should get a nice car and a girlfriend. Now, 15 years later, I’m racing McLaren GT cars, ran 6 marathons and am engaged to the girl of my dreams.

I once asked my mother “why do you always treat me like I’m the bad guy?” And without thinking twice she said “Because you are.” I’ve started living for me instead of for her approval. And though it’s been rough, I do feel much better about myself

The story of Timmy was really resonated with me. "He began to play this masculine role and wear this masculine mask to protect himself from shame. But to play this role effectively, he himself had to believe that it wasn't a role. So he had to convince himself of his persona before he could convince others of his persona, and by doing so, he had to cut off contact with his real, authentic self." I am wondering how many of us lost their true self. If we live our lives according to others expectations so long, then how can we remove the mask which we put up? I am afraid that if we keep staying in the dark, we will lose our eyesight.

As a diagnosed narcissist (a shame based personality disorder), and being self aware of my condition and thus willing to change, I can tell you that is 100% spot on. Parents need to be careful about how they talk to their child. It can fuck them up, badly.

You are not what happened to you You are what you choose to become. ❤️ ☮️

This is the story my life. This is the story of many individuals I've come across. The way you've edited and built the story is very emotional and personal. My respect and love to you.

I just turned 40 and finally applied some of these principles in pursuit of leading a more creative, fulfilling and social life. It's never too late to start.

I was once the kind of person who used to express himself fully, live on his own terms and actually enjoy life. I then came across a couple of guys who I thought were my friends. The relationship with them took a turn for the worst when they started shaming me for who I was. They wanted me to believe what they wanted to believe, eat where they wanted to eat, date someone who they approve of, and have fun like they had fun. This made me feel insignificant and lonely especially when I was with them. It came to a point where I was being judged for every possible comment or thing I said whether when I was with them or on social media. I couldn't express myself anymore. I stopped reading books, gave up my hobbies, stopped growing as a person and more as a mannequin designed for public display. They even started to take credit for making me a better person than I was before very publicly which basically meant that I extinguished my personal self for their approval. I became extremely lazy, started procastinating on my dreams and lived their's instead. The worst part was, they made me so dependant on them that I felt entrapped to their opinions and couldn't think independently anymore. After realizing that something needs to change, this is my first week of actually living on my own terms. I have limited my connection with those guys, have started to reconnect with my hobbies and dreams that I used to cherish. They have tried contacting me, but I have only given them a cold shoulder for over a week now. I feel extremely free and I am thinking more vividly now about where I want to go with my career and personal life. This video has come at the right time for me and I thank the creator and all the authors referenced in this content for provoiding me with such a profound view to life. Best of luck to all those who are going through what I have been through and may you break the threads that hurt more the longer you keep holding to them Good luck :)

this couldn't have been more timely - feeling like half the friendships i have aren't fulfilling bc I'm not able to be my true self

'' The charm of knowledge would be small indeed, were it not that there is so much shame to be overcome on the way to it. '' Friedrich Nietzsche

My stepdad would make fun of my insecurities when I was little and for the last 6-8 years I've felt like I've been living in a strangers body, only able to escape when around people like my brother and my best friend. I only just a week ago in group therapy realized that I hide my true self away from people so that I won't be judged for who I am. I'm working on eliminating that fear from my life so that I can be happy in my own skin again. I hope everyone reading this can overcome their problems in life very soon

It's taken me nearly 40 years to know who I am, what I like, and freely express that in what I wear, how I do my hair, how I behave, live, etc. I can't get rid of the demonds within me from what happened to me but I feel like I finally know who I am and what I like. Having chronic shame and no sense of self has always be my life, but gradually I am getting to know myself. Raising myself. It's so weird. But it is what you have to do when you have been abused throughout your formative years.

This is something I'm going through right now. This feeling of separating my shame from my life. Leaving behind the people who shame me for being me. The truest version of me. It's not easy especially when it's family, that otherwise has never done you wrong. It's hard to reconcile that point of view and even harder to try and explain it to them. Thank you for this video.

These past few years I've been learning little by little to fully accepting who I really am. It is true that a lot of us have to reject our true selves just to please and fit into society. The main reason why a lot of us do this is mainly because of survival. Human beings need to feel loved and/or appreciated in some way in order to at least go through life with some motivation and good energy. This world is cruel and people who don't have a group/tribe/community/strong network, is bound to having a complicated life in already complicated world.. It is hard to balance your own personal desires and needs with society's. But remember you yourself is the most important person who you should make happy. Even though I personally still have a long way to go to fully accepting myself and not worrying what people think of me, I know I am in the right path because I feel the inner peace within me growing slowly but surely.

I can't believe how close to home this hits. I am a goofy fun and just relaxed gamer. I have always been that way but as I get older I've felt cornered into this idea that I need to be this bad ass fitness alpha type of character because that is what people expect from me. It's just not me, and the more I am around others that are just in my orbit because of vanity reasons the more disconnected I feel. The only time I feel whole is when I'm talking to my gamer buddies and we sit around playing Elden Ring and I can be myself.

Im an infp and traits of an infp are empathy, emotional and sensitive as well as others. Since learning about my personality type i am becoming a better version of myself and trying to not let others negativity and small mindedness affect me. Its not always working but being emotional and sensitive can be so beautiful. I am deeply moved my music such as classical piano or movies that invoke emotion and love and endurance. Being emotional and sensitive has been always viewed as weak or bad but if applied right and balanced with other traits or skills can be a wonderful way to exist in this world that is just so full of greed, hate and intolerance. ❤❤

Remember don't let others define you define yourself don't be a afraid of negative comments sometimes these comments can help you improve upon yourself and become a better person in life

I literally started crying ı always feel so isolated and lonely even when ım with friends and family thanks for opening my eyes ım really confused about how to stop shame it seems hard but ıll try

I was diagnosed as having ADHD after my son was. Learning about what ADHD is compared with what i thought it was has been a series of revelations. Its tough as the traits that are so common to people with ADHD can (are) viewed as character flaws by most of society, particularly in the world of school and work, and at times I completely agree. Its obvious to me that my Dad has ADHD too and while he's got a big heart and is the most generous person i know, he can also be very impulsive, unreliable, he can get angry about little, is impatient etc. He is at the mercy of his ADHD, makes poor financial decisions and is a hoarder. So its tough to not feel ashamed of myself as i know i have some of these traits too and it feel like the only thing stopping me from having all of them and more is my shame. I don't feel ashamed about my sensitivity, my poor working memory, my euphoric highs, my insatiable curiosity etc just the traits that can make the people i care about life's harder.

Thank you. I cried as I remembered how I became a slave of the mask I created to please my mother, and how, step by step, I teared it apart, cuting toxic relaxionships out of my life. I am not the person that I want to be yet, but I am way closer than I was before.

One of the greatest life lessons I've come to know growing into an adult! I hope to share this with my children / grandchildren someday. I always felt a sense of shame not being a 'stud' or 'successful CEO hustler type guy'. I am much more comfortable being exactly who I am, not fighting what naturally interests me and focusing on my personal strengths. If I honestly don't want to do something, I won't do it. ("Hey let's go see this new movie!". (Me, who would rather stay home, make dinner, and relax) "No thanks. I'm gonna stay home tonight. Thanks for the invite, though!".). This is a massive difference to my younger self who would have gone to the movie in order to please others who expect me to go with them. If I don't want to, I don't have to. True friends will respect that, especially if you're honest with them. Don't follow anyone, be yourself, and those who are similar-minded with naturally find you and become dear friends/family in your life!

I've watched a lot of psychology videos during lockdown but this one really hit home like no other. It was certainly the story of my early life but moving away to university and then the big city brought me a certain freedom during my parents' lifetimes. I reached a kind of compromise with them. I also decided there were still things I could learn from them. Since they died I've become more myself but there's still a way to go in some contexts.

for the last couple of years, i've been suffering from not being able to act according to my true self. this video hit so hard.

I think the “healthy shame” is one a lot of us have felt, and its entirely possible that it happens due to us experiencing “toxic shame”. Timmy faced both, he felt the toxic one and felt the need to change according to how his mom and society wants him, when he realised this is half of a life and not a full one, he feels the “healthy shame” and starts to feel like becoming the person he wants to be. Im currently going through that same period, a lifeless shell of a human being, its very difficult to get past this phase.

As a person that’s the youngest out of 7 of my siblings, they don’t understand why I haven’t talked to them in years…growing up it was a struggle for anyone to hear me or actually listen to me. What you just said @6:39 on, struck a major chord with me about friendships based on power not intimacy. And I can not tell you how fkn good it feels to not care anymore. The unfortunate part about it is they never knew that growing up they were all my hero’s and the very same hero’s bit the hell out of me. It’s true what Carl young or Sigmund Freud(can’t remember who)said that resentfulness will come fourth in uglier ways later on in life…well I guess I’m ugly now but GD DMN it feels FKN great!

Finally, in my early 40s am I truly learning to become the true me. It's taken a while, but I'm finally arriving home!

timmy reminds me of my lil bro. more childlike than his friends, creative, likes to be alone, sensitive and not as masculine as my older bro. however, me and my family tried not to judge him or anything. after watching this I'm glad we were doing the right action this whole time. :)

I've struggled my whole life trying to express the mask I was wearing. I found a way out... but I'm glad to see people are talking about this. Not everyone gets it

Toxic shame: Who I am is not who I should be... very simple but powerful concept. I love this. Thanks for sharing!

So true!! I also trying hard to find my true self lost in my childhood. I grew up acting like somebody else to the point that I lost my true self. Hopefully I'll found myself again.

“Poop is just chocolate leaving the packaging that is your asshole” -my highschool guidance counselor before he got arrested

This really opened my eyes more than before about myself and the toxicity of so-called “motivational” videos and readings. Friends, family and strangers wants what’s best for you and people like me believe that if “they can do it, I can do it”. But the reality is because of this ideal false reality I’ve lost myself and added on to my depression.

Balance is key. Freedom without discipline is an empty vessel.

"Thankfully, at some point, Timmy realizes that he is stuck in toxic relationships. The people in his life, his mother especially, want to control his life. And so far, he submitted to their desires. He's live in the life they want to live, rather than the life he wants to live." This.

By age five I had been taught by society, and family that what I was, was unacceptable, and this caused great shame about myself. I felt great shame when I realized at age five that I was a boy that was attracted to other boys. I simply realized in swimming class that I had been looking at a certain boy and wasn't even thinking about my swimming class. I thought this other boy was the most beautiful and perfect looking person I had ever seen. Whenever he looked at me, or talked to me, or even was just near me, I felt all fuzzy and warm inside. What I wanted more than anything was just to be near him. I wanted him to like me and hold my hand, and even hug me. I knew from what society had ingrained in my mind that I wasn't supposed to think about a boy like that. I was supposed to like girls that way, not boys. Even at age five I knew that I would always be attracted to the same sex that I was. I couldn't ever tell anyone about my true feelings. I felt completely isolated, and alone, because I started living a lie to try to make everyone think I was who they thought I should be. As I grew up, I saw nothing but hatred for people like me that couldn't help being attracted to the same sex. I learned all the words like faggot, homo, queer, and many terms that were used in hatred for homosexuals. I saw how queer people were treated and lived in constant fear of anyone ever finding out who I really was. At age eight I fully accepted that I was a homosexual, and I could not change it. I also decided that I could not ever let anyone in my family, or anyone I knew find out that I was a queer. I was so repressed and so full of internalized homophobia that I didn't come out until a few months before I turned sixty-years old. Both of my parents, all of my grandparents, two aunt's, three uncles, most of my cousins, and my best friend all passed away never knowing who I was. I never allowed myself to be who I was. I lived in a self-made prison of Isolation and loneliness for fifty-five years. That is what shame imposed on a person by family and society, and then self-imposed can do to a person. They can never be themselves. Nobody should ever feel like they have to live like that. I shouldn't have forced myself to live like that. It is a miserable life. I'm better now. I'm no longer ashamed of who I am. I no longer try to hide who I am.

I have never heard or read anything I have resonated with so much as this. This hit me so hard. Exactly what I needed to hear and so powerful. This is a divine message to me. Thank you for making this vid and explaining it so well. I feel full

This is has put into words everything that i've been feeling for the past 22 years. I've always thought I had multiple fake personalities simply because i felt shame when voicing my opinions to the point where i've silenced my own thoughts and i no longer know who i am anymore. This is the first step of trying to find what i actually enjoy in life. Thank you so much

My life was completely derailed by "toxic shame" - it eroded everything and I was trapped within a prison, which was my own adaptive strategy to cope. It really is relentless torture (inwardly). All rooted in a broken family, being/feeling rejected by both parents as a young teenager, then suffering from depression & OCD & ending up isolated. As a result of this, I have rarely been able to hold down a job, have been sucked into dysfunctional relationships & on & on & on. I feel too old and deflated to really change now, but understand more clearly where this all began. I was also a budding artist, with skills, and sensitive - so yes, tick those boxes as well. It's hard not to be consumed be fury much of the time, but beyond the anger is pain.

This is so valuable for anyone battling with Childhood CPTSD. Thank you.

I feel like this explains the dynamic of the narcissist pretty well. They’re overcome by the shame of who they are so have to create a fake persona and will viciously attack anything or anyone that doesn’t fit in with their made up reality.

Life involves a balance between the individual and society. If one or the other is broken, they need to be fixed, but they can't exist without each other.

I cried watching this. I'm sensitive, nothing to be ashamed about

Very scarcely do I write a comment under a post, but your words were truly inspirational, and the video as a whole was very well put together and articulate. Thank you.

I've been "living the life my family wanted me to live" a complete miserable Mess. Today i get to think about the life I want to live and I have a feeling it's going to be very nice❤️

For a long time I was a shitty person, hurting people around me, addict, full of hate. Eventually I reached an epiphany and picked up the heaviest thing I could to get me away from who I was as quickly as possible like ripping a bandaid off the faster the better. Now, 2 years later I still have a lot of work to do but I’ve accomplished so much with a plan to accomplish even more and no intention to stop. I shamed myself into rapid growth and accelerated change faster than I thought I could ever handle. Now I’m so different that I don’t even go by my old name anymore, it represents the shame and what I never want to be again.

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” -Carl Jung

I love the reference to the oak tree to the growth of a person. So much affects us into who and how we are. I love a quote from Farscape, not many may have heard of it, but basically the quote states "in the right environment you would thrive". And basically it shows how much the environment and the person or people you surround yourself with really have an impact on the entirety of your being. Great insight 😊

Its hard to overcome the shame of not standing up for yourself and loved ones when you should have the mind keeps replaying the scenario differently with what you should've done or should have said.. because your mind thinks that you're not doing what you should've you're not the strong person people can rely on that you thought you were and you try to change to get to that level but the shame will stick around.. this solution of the video speaks of (not caring what society thinks) .. but what if you're not caring what society thinks but you're caring what you think. So this video is more for people who feel shame for not following society's standards but the shame of you not being internally strong and the helplessness of not being able to act at a given moment is the real shame that people need a solution for. The best way would probably be to find out how other people who overcame this did it I guess.

I needed this. Thank you!

Oh My Word - Freedom in thought, this is incredible, so well constructed and presented. I was stopped in silence when the following was said ………….“But to play this role effectively - he had to believe it wasn’t a role - he had to convince himself of his persona before he could convince others”………….. This is the first time I have ever come across this said with such clarity! - This is a powerful experience (this made me reflect deeply on my journey so far, Timmy is relatable in that his experience is true for so many) This aligns with the name of this channel beautifully - it is indeed Freedom in thought. Thank you.

The irony is that I could verbally eviscerate the individuals that shamed and humiliated me as a child but there has been a strange allowance of their behavior out of fear of hurting them. I cringe at the idea of someone else being bullied or humiliated but also find myself wishing ill upon those who perpetrate such things, making me the same as them, kinda. Here (for me) lies the paradox of figuring out how to repair myself without simultaneously destroying others. I think the answer is in overcoming the fear/dread of having to stop the current course of your life's path, absorbing the pain, momentum, and inertia of your decisions to that point, turning around, facing the road you've been on, then walking back through all the way to the point where you first deviated from your intended and highest path. Believe in yourself, ignore the demons (they can't actually hurt you anyway), and start again with all the knowledge you gained from the previous journey. If you see a ghost on the way, stare directly at it and it will slowly disappear. You do not need to be rescued from your life, you need to live it.

I envy Timmy, he didn't completely forget who he was and was able to reconnect with himself. I hope i can remember too, someday.

Your words are so profound relative to shaming, shunning and self isolation. As a revived gay man, I feel so sad that my earlier life was unfulfilled as my inner self was hiding in the shadows. Like "Timmy ", my darling young boyfriend had submerged his creativity to conform to the social norms of his family and friends. He struggles with liberation of self but together we nurture and support each other . It's as if our combined experience has given birth to new hope and inspiration.

This is something i really needed to hear. I couldn’t put my thoughts into words and this summed it up perfectly

This video was exactly what I needed, growing up with good grades and become an engineer was what I should have been. I went back to music and it fills my heart now. But I'm still toxic sometimes (due to schemes?) and I feel bad about it.

The quote “What does your conscience say? - 'You should become the person you are'.” implies a contradiction: how do you become what you already are? It makes no sense, since something becoming what it already is actually just describing something unmoving and unchanging. The point Nietzsche is making is that there is only the "becoming", and not the "being". The self is always changing and never stays the same. So a true self sounds too essentialistic for Nietzsche imo. You're not more or less than what you actually do. "To become what one is, one must not have the faintest notion of what one is... The whole surface of consciousness - for consciousness -is- a surface - must be kept clear of all great imperatives. Beware even of every great word, every great pose! So many dangers that the instinct comes too soon to "understand itself" --." - Nietzsche, Ecco Homo Nietzsche rejects the idea that we or the world has an end goal. There is only becoming through struggle.

It is a magical feeling finding who you really are at over 30. +1

I had this exact awakening a year ago, thank you so much for putting into words.

Our true self is ever changing, based on our daily habits, thoughts and decisions. "You" becomes what you currently are

I think its when we continue to relive it in our heads long after its past thats what drags you down. Self compassion is the only antidote.

For the first time, in a long time, I was actually blown away from a video essay. Just because you made me realize things that was right in front of my eyes the whole time. I was just seeing it with the wrong perspective. Thank you.

I don’t read a lot in philosophy and I barely know famous philosophers, but what nietszche said is deep as I survived my toxic family and learned alot about my trauma responses what nietszche said about shame is really deep and true

This video came recommended to me just at the right time. I've been struggling with hiding my true self from people, and this video has given me food for thought and pushed me toward beginning to resolve this.

6:50 this is exactly the dynamic I grew up in, I’ve never heard it described more clearly

Dude its a really helpful and deep video, I can relate 100%. It feels like you come upon the right videos when you are ready for change !

i really need that video about "who i am, is not who i want to be"... love your videos man ♥

Great video. This is a problem I had growing up and trying to pursue my career, my family is one way or another shamed me for my decision. Overtime it will make you question your sanity and everything about life. Role playing is not fun , I’m glad these videos exist and read these comments make me feel like I’m not alone.

It's very sad when u see a lot of people are adapting a fake personality just cuz society wants that

I try to be funny at times in casual setting. I had a girl said to me "look we got a clown over here." These were the statements that would put me in severe depression and in shame it injured my self-esteem. Only very recently I am having thought, i have ability to make others laugh. Are there some who doesn't like my humor. That's fine. But i am not gonna let's random disagreements which aren't constructive or genuine criticism hurt me.

Wow! Well said, thank you for this. Be true to yourself. Namaste all you beautiful souls, on this miraculous journey. 🙏🏼

I can honestly say that Nietzsche's philosophy has changed my life for the better

This was great. Thank you for posting and taking the time to put it together. You are helping to make the world a better place.❤

I haven't read Nietzsche, but what you explained made simple sense. Well done.

thank you for this content it made me feel better, im very ashamed because my father molested me and I should be a better man at 25. people at work think I’m tough just because I’m fit and a marine but im just being this way to have a job and so people treat me good. I hope tomorrow is better then today for you.

This really opened up my eyes and I feel like I understand how to progress forward by being my best true self. Acknowledging that I can only be myself at the end of the day.

I just love how soothing his voice is!

I am IN LOVE with this video. EVERYONE NEEDS to watch this.

„No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical Training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty of which his body is capable of“ ~ Socrates A message to everyone (not only men but women too), be whoever you want to be, but try to be good at it and keep some standards (such as physical health and fitness). Don’t be one of those fools, who waste their potential with all of this identity bs. Do what you love, embrace it and be the BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF. Even if you are a Scientist or a Artist, be a damn good one and work on every aspect. Work on your body (it will only strengthen your mentality for what you love to do), your Intellect and your Social skills. Be a different animal than yesterday, do not waste this one life that you received with being mediocre and pitiful. Your better than that!

I’m glad you’re making all these videos. Thanks for sharing a bit of yourself with all of us. When we are being ourselves, we make the world a better place.

I cried hearing this. As someone who inherited shame from her mother. Thankyou.

This is brutally amazing. Well done, my friend!

When we hear the term 'Shadow Work', this is what it's all about. Everything that lives in the Shadow is draped in shame. When we shine love/light onto those parts of us, we begin to heal the Shadow and break away from shame. Lovely ✨💛✨

I feel shame when I go against myself when I do something that is contrary to what is right and good and best in my interest... Then I become aware of what is causing me to feel shame and then I correct it..

This video is literally describing me. I was shamed throughout my entire childhood by various male role models. Sensitive, intuitive, highly emotional, but in their minds, ‘gay’, ‘poofter’ etc etc. Ran away from myself for a long time to ‘be a man’ - playing football, and then lifting weights in my early adult life to ‘get big or die trying’. First girlfriend told me she was more of a man than I was and then broke things off. I was in my mid twenties feeling pretty depressed and damaged. The journey back to myself began. Picked up a camera and pen and started telling stories through my photographs and words. One book already released, and the second is on the way. My pain became power. Their words became fuel. It’s been quite the ride already, but I’m here, and I love and accept myself for who I am at my core.

You know. Im a guy that just separeted himself from everyone and i simply live alone. Im a retail worker that works like a mf all day just to make time go by fast just so i can go home and play my game. Im 27, before i left my home for the 2nd time i remember telling my dad that i didnt know who i was anymore. When i was younger i used to be very social, very cool and funny and everyone wanted to be around me. But a few events here and there i just closed myself inside my shell. I simply stopped being me entirely, and i forgot who I was in the end. Now i recently just stopped. The longer i live alone the less i care about who sees me headbanging, making faces, singing in public. I notice people see me, and i just smile at it. At work i sing even if its very low just in case a manager pops out. But overall, i stopped being ashamed of myself, of what made me so sociable.

This kinda hit home for me. Very familiar feelings and situation. I've been on a sort of personal journey for the last two or three years. I'm not there yet, but I've come from far.

Guilt is an emotion we should seek to reduce in society. Shame is synonymous with guilt.

Great short story 👏. It takes a lot of courage to be our authentic selves. For most people it is rather scary to stand out from fear of rejection from a group. I personally believe we all have a path to walk which no one else can do, except us. Either way great content. I also am called Timmy and can relate to this story to some degree except I've been very lucky to have a very good supportive Mother 👏