SHAME EXPOSES WHAT YOU WORSHIP

Shame comes in a number of different formats.

Sometimes it can be shame about something you regret doing in the past.

Shame can be about being ashamed of something that happened to you.

Shame can be the belief “I am not who I should be yet.”

Or a number of different options.

What we are worshipping is the story or belief that we have inside of us.

We are believing the story that by being ashamed – that will somehow propel us forward.

Meanwhile, it has the exact opposite effect.

It is a way we hold ourselves back.

It is a way we take from the world rather than give to the world.

It is a way we are selfish rather than selfless.

It is a way of being greedy rather than generous.

Let’s expose shame for what it is and shift to freedom.

You are not your story. You are wonderful. That is what you are. Remember that.

DISTINCTION: SERVING VS. PLEASING

“Serving is intended to benefit the person being served. Pleasing is intended to benefit the person doing the pleasing."

- Steve Chandler

FACTS VS. EXPERIENCE: THOUGHTS ON OCCURRENCE

My opinion about someone or something is just that – my opinion or my thoughts.

I then express those thoughts that I have about someone or something through language that I tell myself and others.

The main thing I must remember is that this is all MY experience of the world.

And just like I have an experience of the world – so does EVERYONE else. And their experience is valid as well.

If I think that my experience of the world is FACT, then I will find myself stuck because I will think that anyone who sees the world differently as being irrational or disconnected from “reality.” And this will not be helpful because people can tell when I think their viewpoint of the world is inferior.

Therefore, to best move forward, we can come to the table and listen to many experiences of the world and know that we have just one piece of the very large puzzle. It helps us stay both grounded and curious. Grounded because we realize we don’t know everything and curious because there is a world of knowledge out there. And there are amazing people we can learn from.

May we focus on being students rather than teachers.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU STOP AND THINK ABOUT THIS?

WHAT IF DESPAIR ISN’T WHAT YOU THINK IT IS?

What if despair isn’t a “bad” thing?

What if it is rather simply an invitation into a new conversation.

A conversation beyond the judgment of it and the thinking of “I shouldn’t be in despair.”

A conversation that reveals that you actually care enough about something to be in despair about it.

How.

About.

That?

So what if you stopped judging your despair and just let it be. Get some perspective from those around you. And keep yourself open to what is being revealed in it.