We've reached the end of this course, and I want to express how incredibly proud I am of you. Stepping into this journey, acknowledging the weight of your past and the shame you've carried, and choosing to explore these difficult emotions – that takes immense courage.

What's the true hope when we understand the link between shame and our experiences of humiliation and mockery? It's about more than just moving on; it's about actively uncovering the untrue narratives we've internalized and choosing to revisit our past with a deep sense of kindness.

We all carry stories of shame. Often, these narratives become the unseen forces that shape our lives, driving us to outrun the deep-seated fear that the negative accusations swirling in our minds might actually be true.

The very first prophecy in the Bible, found in Genesis, speaks of a future victory: Satan will strike at humanity's heel, but One will come to stomp his head.

We've explored the nature of shame and its impact on our lives. Now, let's turn towards the crucial question: how do we actually heal from shame? I want to offer encouragement

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.