breaking the shame chain

Most toxic shame has been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. Our great-grandparents transferred their shame to our grandparents, our grandparents transferred it to our parents, and our parents dumped it all on us.

What messages of shame did you receive when you were a kid? "You're inadequate" is a common one. "You take up too much room." "You're unwanted, unlovable, unimportant." Or maybe "You're stupid" or even "You're crazy."

All of these?

Ask yourself: Do you really want your kids to get the same message?

Tip: For more information about shame messages and their effects on us, read Rising Above Shame by Dr. Stan Wilson.