As a Professional Coach and general cheerleader of human potential, I am always curious to what holds us back as human beings from experiencing a life full of purpose and adventure.
When I hear the words, oppression and shame, I don’t immediately think of them as road blocks for the average person. I think of them, more in terms that relate to people who are living in poverty, lack, abuse, or extreme discrimination.
But the more I learn, and the more stories people share with me, the more I recognize the power of oppression and shame to hold back even the most privileged of people.
In the book, “Coming Out of Shame”‘ authors Gershen Kaufman and Lev Raphael share this powerful insight: “Unexamined shame on either the individual or societal level becomes an almost insurmountable obstacle to the realization of inner wholeness and true connection with others, because shame reveals us all as lesser, worthless, deficient -in a word, profoundly and unspeakably inferior.”
Carl Sagan described oppression in these words: “One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.”
if you are feeling held back or stuck, consider these questions about shame and oppression:
1) What words jumped out at you when you read the definition of shame out of the book, “Coming Out of Shame”?
2) Are there areas of your life you have closed off to others? Dreams, hopes, fears, past…
3) Do you believe you have been bamboozled into believing something other than the truth of who you are and what God has intend for you to accomplish with you life?
What I know and believe about you is that you were created for a great and amazing future. If you would like to take the next step into your future and don’t know how, let me know. I am here to cheer you on!
longandluxe
March 11, 2014Wow, this is very powerful indeed. I am also knee deep in trying to pick apart and understand shame. I just finished reading Daring Greatly by Brene Brown – eye opener! I’m learning that to be vulnerable is the only way to really live a “wholehearted life” as you reference. Thank you for your beautiful insights! ~ Allison
angelalcraig
March 11, 2014Hi Allison, I almost posted Brene’ Brown’s book and TED Talk in this article. They are outstanding. Glad you mentioned it here! I hope your day is amazing. You wear that crown well sister!
longandluxe
March 11, 2014Thank you, as do you, love!! I think I’ve watched Brene’s TED talk aout 15 times. Have you seen the talk she gave at the 99 Conference? She speaks specifically to “creatives” – – I cried! SO powerful. If you get a chance, do check it out I think you will love it! 🙂
angelalcraig
March 11, 2014Allison, How did you know this is the reminder I needed today! Thank you for the gift. I have heard Brene’ quote Theodore Roosevelt before but it never meant is much as it does today. Thank you for the gift.