One of my many interests is change. As in how do you effect it, well, effectively?
As my son & some of his friends were gathered for dinner last night they were talking about their experiences being camp counsellors this summer. It was uber interesting listening to their take on what to do with kids who weren’t listening or otherwise doing what they wanted them to do. Alas I’d love to say that they worked to effect change with empathy & compassion but it wasn’t always the case (they’re teenage boys after all).
But it got me thinking about my shero Brene Brown & a recent post of hers on shame.
Some folks use shame in bucketfuls to effect change. Brene includes two examples of marketing campaigns (one on obesity & one on teen pregnancy) in her fabulous post, where she says:
Shame diminishes our capacity for empathy.
Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.
She goes on to define shame as “the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.” “We might feel justified in belittling and humiliating people, but it makes the world a more dangerous place.”
What do you think? What’s your perspective on shame?
