Shame is not something we are born with. It is something put onto us.
As children, many of us absorbed shame that came from parents or caregivers who could not face their own failings. Instead of taking responsibility, they projected their guilt and blame onto us. We carried that weight because we had no choice.
Over time, the burden of shame can sink so deeply into us that it feels like part of our own story. The cruel or unkind words said to us may have been repeated until we believed them. But that shame was always external. It was imposed, unfair, and undeserved.
Healing begins when we recognise this difference. The shame we carry is not proof of who we are. It is evidence of what we endured.
As adults we can begin to put down what was never ours. We can acknowledge the damage, face it, and choose a life that is no longer shaped by the burdens others placed upon us.
Continue your healing journey with Toxic by Jackie Poet a compassionate guide to understanding and overcoming the lasting effects of childhood trauma.
