Shame isn't just an emotion; it's a physical experience. Think about your own "shame response" – a flush, sweating palms, a nervous habit. Our bodies often manifest shame before our minds fully process it.

Witnessing my toddler, Jack, experience shame for the first time during potty training was a poignant reminder of this complex emotion's impact. His innocent freedom suddenly met the weight of feeling he'd done something wrong.

One of the fascinating, and sometimes unsettling, aspects of shame is how deeply it's shaped by the culture we inhabit. Culture acts as a powerful, often unseen, current, dictating what is deemed acceptable and what should be hidden.

Shame often arises from the space between our current reality and our aspirations. We envision embodying certain qualities—honesty, competence, compassion, and care—that define belonging within our communities.

Shame often attaches itself to the parts of our lives we try to conceal, yet it can inadvertently define us. Our aim is to help you identify these hidden areas and invite Jesus into them, discovering His presence in those very spaces.

This journey of understanding our stories, the hurts, and the triumphs that have shaped us, isn't just about personal betterment. It's about something far greater: equipping ourselves to bring genuine hope and healing to the world around us.

We've explored the internal landscapes of healing – our relationship with God and with our own bodies. Now, let's turn outward to the crucial role of community in navigating the complexities of trauma. The journey of story work, of truly seeing and understanding our experiences, is often too risky to undertake alone.

When stress starts to take hold, pulling us out of the present moment, we need simple, accessible tools to ground ourselves. Here are two quick techniques you can use anywhere, anytime

We've explored how connecting with God can be a powerful aspect of healing trauma. Now, let's turn our attention to another crucial element: our relationship with ourselves, specifically our bodies.