In a recent episode of the podcast Unlocking Us, Brené Brown discusses the power of shame and how it is not an effective tool for social justice. She goes on to explain that shame is in fact real pain that is defined as the “intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love, belonging, and connection.” It is in fact so powerful that when we experience shame, it triggers a fight, flight or freeze response. She identifies shame as a tool of oppression that is inherently dehumanizing.
While specifically speaking to her White audience she states, “it is our responsibility to move through shame in a productive way without defensiveness, without doubling down, without rationalizing, without demanding to be taught, without demanding absolution, without demanding comfort from the very person who is holding you accountable.” She continues to declare that we are responsible for regulating our own emotions in that way in order to continue having hard conversations while doing anti-racism work.
The connection between pain and trauma resonates as an intersection of experiences that are often the root cause of maladaptive coping strategies such as addictions. As we begin to see the myriad of ways in which we experience trauma, we must too look at new and emerging practices that offer a somatic foundation. Brené articulates beautifully how the body feels these emotions long before the brain gets involved and encourages her audience to explore their own body awareness to be able to recognize when the nervous system is being hijacked by shame.
To listen to the podcast follow the link below:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/...0511?i=1000480887474
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