Shame Does Not Get the Final Say
Shame Does Not Get the Final Say
Today I became aware of something that had been quietly sitting in the background.
Shame.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
Not overwhelming.
Just there.
Lingering beneath the surface.
The interesting thing about shame is that it often hides.
It disguises itself as self-criticism.
Perfectionism.
Avoidance.
Overthinking.
Self-doubt.
Feeling like you are somehow not enough.
Feeling like you need to earn your worth.
Feeling like you need to hide parts of yourself.
For a while, I didn’t even realize it was there.
Until today.
Awareness Changes Everything
One of the most powerful things we can do is simply become aware.
Not judge.
Not suppress.
Not run from what we are feeling.
Just notice.
When I noticed the shame, I didn’t try to push it away.
I felt it.
I acknowledged it.
I allowed myself to be honest about what was happening.
Strangely enough, that awareness immediately began loosening its grip.
Because shame thrives in darkness.
It thrives when it remains unseen.
However, once it is brought into the light, something begins to shift.
It’s Okay to Feel What You’re Feeling
I think many people are afraid of difficult emotions.
They try to bypass them.
Fix them.
Ignore them.
But, emotions are often messengers.
They are trying to show us something.
That doesn’t mean we need to stay there forever.
It does mean we can listen.
Today I allowed myself to feel the shame without making it my identity.
I felt it without agreeing with it.
There is a difference.
Bringing God Into the Process
After I noticed it, I did something simple.
I brought God into it.
I intentionally sent God’s love toward the part of me that was hurting.
Not because I had everything figured out.
Not because I knew exactly where the shame had originated.
But because I know God meets us where we are.
I asked Him to take what no longer belonged to me.
I asked the Holy Spirit to help me release it.
I asked for help.
Then, I let it go.
Not dramatically.
Probably not perfectly.
Just honestly.
What Shame Tries to Make Us Forget
Shame often whispers:
You’re not enough.
You’re falling behind.
You’re getting it wrong.
You should be different than you are.
God’s voice sounds different.
God reminds us:
You are loved.
You are chosen.
You are forgiven.
You are worthy.
You belong.
Romans 8:1 says:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
No condemnation.
Not less condemnation.
Not occasional condemnation.
None!
Gratitude Helps Open the Door
After releasing what I could, I found myself naturally moving toward gratitude.
Not forced gratitude.
Not pretending everything is perfect.
Just noticing.
The people in my life.
The growth I’ve experienced.
The lessons I’ve learned.
The beauty around me.
The simple gift of another day.
Gratitude doesn’t deny what hurt.
It simply reminds us that hurt is not the whole story.
Questions to Reflect On
What emotion have I been avoiding?
Is there shame hiding beneath something else?
What would happen if I brought that feeling into the light?
What truth does God want me to remember today?
Final Thoughts
Shame does not get the final say.
It is okay to notice it.
It is okay to feel it.
It is okay to be honest about it.
You do not have to build a home there.
You can bring it into the light.
You can invite God into the process.
You can release what no longer belongs to you.
Little by little, you can remember the truth:
You were never meant to carry shame as your identity.
You are loved.
You are treasured.
You are free to keep moving forward.
~ Natalie
If this has resonated with you, and feel led to give back in some way: Gifts, prayers, shares, or donations help me continue creating with integrity and flow. Every seed sown nourishes more lives than you know.
Leave a Reply