I must accept shame, but...
Shame is the vibrancy-killer.
Shame is the little-shackle that prevents total self-expression.
I will embrace my shame.
I will permit it to be heard and felt across my body.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see what it had obscured.
Where the shame has gone there will be everything.
Only unmediated connection will remain.
Everywhere I look, I see Dune: Part 2. The Bene Gesserit's Litany Against Fear has been in popular culture since the books came out, and it must be mainstream at this point thanks to the films. While living it out in practice can sometimes be a challenge, I wholeheartedly agree with not letting fear drive us.
I wondered if anyone had considered this from a shame perspective, as well. A quick search didn't bring up a shame angle on this piece, so I took a stab at writing my own.
While fear can be felt directly, I've rarely felt shame directly; or rather, it's taken introspection and tuning self-awareness to understand the difference between the two. These two feelings are related, however I find that they each block slightly different things. If I am feeling fear, I may not do the thing or take the risk that I want to take, but I can still connect with people. However, if I am feeling shame, I find it harder to connect intimately, even if I am still managing to do the thing I am afraid of.
What would a Paul Atreides look like had he been free of shame? In case you haven't seen/read the story, I won't give away any spoilers. That said, I could see things going differently if Paul had let go of his shame and connected more with those around him.
I'm curious if you see the same dynamic at play in Dune, or in your own life?
Written from:
While listening to:
