Shame: Free Yourself, Find Joy and Build True Self-Esteem

When we consider the definition of shame we often compare it to Guilt. Commonly, it is thought that we feel guilt for something we have done that is unacceptable; but with shame, we feel that we are unacceptable. In this episode Dr. Joe Burgo expands the formal definition of Toxic Shame discussed by John Bradshaw as the result of unspeakable child abuse or the oppressive force of social shame addressed by Brene’ Brown. Drawing upon his new book, Shame: Free Yourself, Find Joy and Build True Self-Esteem, Dr. Burgo invites us to consider shame as an entire family of emotions like the pain of unrequited love, the embarrassment of exclusion, the exposure of getting sick at the party or the shame of a disappointed expectation like the college entry rejection or the canceled engagement. Essentially, Dr. Burgo invites us not to be ashamed of shame as it is an aspect of many human feelings. Rather than deny it, Dr. Burgo demonstrates how to use it to build Shame Resilience and Self-Esteem.