When “I Did Something Wrong” Turns Into “I Am Something Wrong”

Shame isn’t just a feeling, it’s a sneaky belief that whispers, “You’re not enough.” Unlike guilt (which says, “I messed up”), shame tells us “I am the mess.” And let’s be honest, we’ve all had a few cups of that bitter brew.

Chronic shame can grow quietly over years: in childhood homes where love was conditional, in classrooms where mistakes weren’t safe, or through cultural messages that tell us who we should be. It becomes that relentless inner critic, the one who never takes a day off (cheeky thing).

In therapy, we don’t try to “fix” you, because you’re not broken. We gently turn toward that shame together, and we explore with curiosity and compassion. Bit by bit, you learn to hear your inner critic without obeying it, to meet your pain with kindness, and to reconnect with your own worth.

Because shame can’t survive empathy, and that’s what therapy offers in abundance.

🌼 We’re all made of the same messy magic, human, worthy, and still learning.

~ Jumbled Bean