Dear Robert,
I’m not sure that mild and non toxic shame does present in the waiting room, as
Cristina says we allow it to pass through us and move forward without any
debilitating contraction after whatever adjustment might have been necessary,
so its not problematic quite the contrary a gift of insight and awareness
guiding actions.
But I can definitely go with your distinction of acknowledging that the
healthy Vs toxic description can be attached to the responses and that then
sets up even more that I am curious about discussing but leave for now
Grateful to my own healing of intellectual shame that might in the past have
had me contract from such a discussion, I have a little dance of delight in my
heart just participating thanks to all and thanks Chris your discussion helped
me get clearer
Jonine
From: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Monday, 21 March 2016 9:05 PM
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] Shame - corrected post
Hi Chris, Jonine and All,
Indeed you are right in noting the assumption of blame as the underlying
dynamic in shame. However without blame can we really talk about shame? If the
self is not rebuked by the self what is behind the dampening emotional
discomfort? Even mild embarrassment seems to indicate an emotional charge.
If shame is mild, quickly dissipating and non toxic why would it even present
in the waiting room?
No matter how I am turning it, healthy and shame do not want to dance together
for me. Mild, quickly dissipating shame I can relate to, non toxic shame I can
also accept; a healthy soar throat just because it is not the bird flu just
does not seem as a felicitous turn of phrase.
All in all I do agree with Jonine and you that the critical point of course is
how we deal with shame. If shame can interrupt, expose or deflate us yet the
non toxic version can moves us to take appropriate remedial action then it is
the remedial action that is healthy.
Kind regards to all,
Robert
On Mon, Mar 21, 2016 at 1:45 PM, Chris Walsh chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
wrote:
Hi Robert
Thanks for your perseverance with this difficult and important topic. I hope
our discussion will help constellation practitioners be more aware of shame and
more adept at dealing with it.
Your paraphrasing of my points shows me that you really get what I am saying
about shame except for one nuance.
When you say:
The implication is that the ‘not working out’, social disconnection,
disapproval is due to the speaker (self) and not the audience or a possible
third factor.
That implication reflects an assumption of blaming.
This suggests an internal entanglement where some toxic shame is still locked
in either at the pole of attack self or attack other.
The implication of "not working out" actually is that the shame has evolved out
of the entire system. For the shame to stay healthy and not degenerate into
toxic shame any looking needs to be done with the attitude of trying to find a
good adaptive response rather than looking for someone to blame.
Cheers
Chris Walsh
On Monday, 21 March 2016, Robert Grant erebees@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:erebees@xxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
wrote:
Hi Chris and thank you for giving us plenty of helpful food for thought. On the
one hand a skilful therapeutic approach to shame seems to be associated with
the expression “healthy shame” and on the other hand healthy shame is defined
“as being an emotion that takes the energy out of something that had your
attention and interest but wasn't working out." or “a little shame can take the
energy out of something that isn't really working" Accordingly healthy shame or
a little shame is the signal that says it might be time to deflate and back off
or we will lose some social acceptance or approval.
The implication is that the ‘not working out’, social disconnection,
disapproval is due to the speaker (self) and not the audience or a possible
third factor. This impingement on the self is where I find the attribute
healthy a bit slippery.
Kind regards to all,
Robert
On Sun, Mar 20, 2016 at 3:21 PM, Chris Walsh chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
wrote:
Hi all
I apologise for the poor punctuation and grammar in the post i recently sent to
the group addressed to Robert. for those who are interested I have edited it
and reposted it here:
I once saw a skilled mindfulness practitioner who wanted clinical supervision
combined with some therapy. He was suffering severe anxiety. When I suggested
he sit with it, he insisted he was but I told him that I could tell he wasn't.
We then sat with his anxiety together and I asked him to describe the
sensations in his body. He described an unpleasant sensation in the chest that
increased on the inbreath. When I asked if it decreased on the out breath or at
any other time he said "no". I then asked if the sensation was getting stronger
and stronger. Again he said "no". I pointed out those two answers were
incompatible. If the sensation was getting stronger on the inbreath but not
increasing overall then there must be a time it decreased. He then paid closer
attention and noticed that the sensation did indeed decrease on the out breath.
On further reflection he realised he wasn't really sitting with the anxiety but
rather he was sitting with the anxiety - waiting for it to go. So he continued
to be anxious about being anxious and remained stuck in a toxic spiral of
anxiety. This insight was a turning point for him.
You talking about healthy shame as "a little shame is good for you because it
will hold you back from doing bad things". This is similar to the experience
of this therapist. It reveals a narrative that supports you reeentering toxic
shame just as he was unintentionally feeding his anxiety . Instead I encourage
you to think of healthy shame as being an emotion that takes the energy out of
something that had your attention and interest but wasn't working out.
I have to tell you I have given therapy to a number of very empathic
therapists, who have worked a lot with clients with toxic shame, who have been
on the edge of burn out. These people also seem to have serious issues with
vagueness. They are all seem to be stuck in subtle levels of shame themselves,
which they can only overcome when they start to understand the healthy adaptive
side of shame. Those that are able to do make this transition are very happy to
rediscover a wonderful lightness of being.
Cheers
Chris Walsh
Melbourne, Australia
ph +61 (0)3 9420 1425
www.cwalsh.com.au <http://www.cwalsh.com.au>
On Sun, Mar 20, 2016 at 1:31 PM, Chris Walsh <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Hi Robert
I once saw a skilled mindfulness practitioner who wanted clinical supervision
combined with some therapy. He was suffering severe anxiety when I suggested he
sit with it he insisted he was but I told him that I could tell he wasn't. We
then sat with his anxiety together and I asked him to describe the sensations
in his body. He described an unpleasant sensation in the chest that increased
on the inbreath. When I asked if it decreased on the out breath or at any other
time he said "no". I then asked if the sensation was getting stronger and
stronger. Again he said "no". I pointed out those two answers were
incompatible. If the sensation was getting stronger on the inbreath but not
increasing overall then there must be a time it decreased.He then paid closer
attention and noticed that the sensation did indeed decrease on the out breath.
On further reflection he realised he wasn't really sitting with the anxiety but
rather he was sitting with the anxiety waiting for it to go. So he continued to
be anxious about being anxious and remained stuck in a toxic spiral of anxiety.
The insight he got in this session was a turning point for him.
You talking about healthy shame as being "a little shame is good for you
because it will hold you back from doing bad things" is similar to the
experience of this therapist. It reveals a narrative that supports you
reentering toxic shame. Instead I encourage you to think of healthy shame as
being an emotion that takes the energy out of something that had your attention
and interest but wasn't working out. I have to tell you I have given therapy to
a number of very empathic therapists, who have worked a lot with clients with
toxic shame, who have been on the edge of burn out. These people also seem to
have serious issues with vagueness. These people are all stuck in subtle levels
of shame themselves, which they can only overcome when they start to understand
the healthy adaptive side of shame. Those that are able to do make this
transition are very happy to rediscover a wonderful lightness of being.
Cheers
Chris Walsh
Melbourne, Australia
ph +61 (0)3 9420 1425
www.cwalsh.com.au <http://www.cwalsh.com.au>
On Sun, Mar 20, 2016 at 10:01 AM, Robert Grant erebees@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:erebees@xxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
wrote:
Hi Chris and Everyone,
Thank you again for your continuing engagement on this subject of shame. To
clarify things further I am in complete agreement with your proposed
bioenergetic / body energetic strategy of dealing with shame. The issue for me
is not that of fear or avoidance of confronting shame in a therapeutic context
but that of considering / labelling shame in a general context as healthy on
any level, that is to say “a little shame is good for you because it will hold
you back from doing bad things”. Behaviour modification by restraint, that may
leave the underlying dynamics in tact.
Kind regards to all,
Robert
On Sat, Mar 19, 2016 at 11:04 PM, Chris Walsh chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
wrote:
Dear Robert
Thank you for remaining open enough to be willing to explore this difficult
issue. Hania rightly points out the difficulty with language but if you left it
at that you would be seriously shortchanging yourself. The price that is paid
for creating a rigid distinction between dampening / healthy shame and toxic
shame is the same price someone pays who won't have anything to do with fire
after having been caught in a bush fire. You miss out on a wonderful resource.
In this case it is a resource that helps you to be adaptable and also helps
you to develop genuine humility as apposed to that icky fake humility that
happens when people try to be humble by an act of will.
I recently treated a soldier who had post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
after seeing a mate blown up by a mine in front of him. Consequently he had an
irrational reaction of terror every time he saw a divot in the ground in
Australia.Every time he aoided a divot and he did not get blown up his fear of
divots was reinforced and his general level of anxiety would get worse. This is
a classical reaction. After dealing with the flashbacks and number of the other
problems with his PTSD I encouraged him to approach divots in the ground. Soon
after he was in a playground with his child and became terrified when he saw a
divot in the ground but he took a few deep breaths and approached that divot
and kicked it around with his feet. He was then able to enjoy playing with his
daughter for an hour after that.Fear of healthy shame is equivalent to fear of
that divot. That leads to a self fulfilling prophesy whereby your averse
reaction to healthy shame turns it into toxic shame. So you then live your life
in fear of being shamed and in fear of shaming others. That's a life treading
on eggshells. That's a life where your resilience is continuously in danger of
being seriously undermined by a toxic shame attack.
I would therefore like to invite you to try an experiment, taking the lead from
Cristina's posts. Next time you feel some shame just try practicing mindful
awareness of your breath and let any thoughts that come up go past like clouds.
You can label them as "just thoughts" if you like. Then allow yourself to focus
on subtle sensations coursing through your body for at least 10 breaths. See
if you can also notice the state of your mind - whether it feels clear or
cloudy, calm or agitated. I invite you to get to know the unique signature that
shame has in your body right now. I invite you to notice what happens to this
sensation if you try to do nothing about it except to observe it and avoid
complicating it with further story. I also invite you to notice how you
reengage with the world after going through this process. If you go through
this process whenever you encounter shame - either yours or someone else's, I
guarantee that you will make extraordinary discoveries which will eventually
include the healing power of shame.
Cheers
Chris Walsh
Melbourne, Australia
ph +61 (0)3 9420 1425
www.cwalsh.com.au <http://www.cwalsh.com.au>
On Sat, Mar 19, 2016 at 4:17 PM, Robert Grant erebees@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:erebees@xxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
wrote:
Hello Everyone,
Thank you Chris for your additional explanations and strategic clarity, and
everyone for such a long and engaging discussion. I was wondering why do I feel
a measure of unease about assigning any at all beneficial quality to shame,
guilt or even regret. On further reflection my difficulty is that we could be
attaching a positive attribute to something that is in fact only a restraint.
With other words the positive behaviour modification is not the expression of
intrinsic and authentic goodwill, generosity or kindness but internal pressure,
fear or pain. Of course in the real world one should be grateful even for small
mercies. One could also say that prisons are full of people who had no
restraint. And a pragmatic person may say that it does not matter what colour
the cat is as long as it catches mice. All true, yet for me there is something
just a bit out of tune.
Best wishes to all,
Robert
On Fri, Mar 18, 2016 at 10:13 PM, Chris Walsh chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
wrote:
I agree Cristina that ultimately the most healthy way of dealing with shame is
to sit with the body sensations. This avoids going into secondary emotions and
getting stuck in a toxic repetitive cycle. This requires a very strong mindful
awareness practice with a strongly developed prefrontal cortex. That is quite
easily achievable for many of us with a little bit of training. However that is
not so for people who have had highly traumatic childhoods. They will quickly
become overwhelmed and slip into a destructive narrative, which then elicits
lots of secondary emotions including more shame.. These people need a lot of
empathic holding before they are capable of sitting with the physical
sensations of shame as you describe.
Also I believe you are absolutely correct when you say that guilt is entirely
different from shame. Guilt is a signal that tells us our belonging is
threatened, just like pain is a signal that tells us when our body is
threatened. Neither is strictly speaking an emotion, even though we do talk
about both of them as if they are. The reason we get confused is because they
both elicit strong emotions. Pain elicits distress and fear. Guilt elicits
shame and anxiety. Pain is not distress or fear. Guilt is not shame or anxiety.
I do however understand Robert's need for a clearer linguistic distinction
between toxic shame and healthy shame. The word shame is so loaded that it is
almost impossible for many people to talk about it without going into shame and
becoming foggy in their thinking. (Foggy thinking along with lowered gaze and
loss of muscle tone are the hallmarks of all types of shame) That is why I like
to use the word dampening which describes the process of shame without risking
a toxic reaction in the reader. Nonetheless we do need to remain clear we are
talking about the same process. Just because fire can cause devastating damage
we don't feel the need to call the fire that we cook our food with something
different. Ultimately, in the interest of clarity and efficient healing we need
to recognise that toxic shame and healthy shame are essentially the same, just
like a bush fire and the flame under your fry pan are essentially the same
thing.
Cheers
Chris
Cheers
Chris Walsh
Melbourne, Australia
ph +61 (0)3 9420 1425
www.cwalsh.com.au <http://www.cwalsh.com.au>
On Fri, Mar 18, 2016 at 8:38 PM, 'Cristina Casanova' krsna-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:krsna-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
wrote:
In my experience, the most liberating thing to do is to learn to feel and
manage the affect of shame, no matter how toxic, and discharge it through the
body, as in trauma resolution. Also there is a huge difference between shame
and guilt. In guilt, the Self is in integrity and has made a mistake, in shame,
the entire Self is Bad. Cristina
From: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 9:34 PM
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] Shame
“healthy dealing with shame means to face it and acknowledge it. It means
letting go of the toxic avoidance reactions of attacking other, attacking self,
avoiding other or avoiding self. These just bind you deeper into toxic shame.
The empathic therapist can be very helpful in this process. It also means
embracing the reparative aspect of healthy shame.”
Hi Chris and All,
Indeed we are having a good look at this shame issue. Most of your reflections
make good sense to me. The only point where I would welcome a little
clarification is that of ‘healthy shame”. Feeling regret, feeling that one has
made a mistake, not wishing to repeat mistakes or cause hurt – these are clear
motives. Considering how close they are and how easy it is to turn “healthy”
shame into toxic shame, is using the expression “healthy shame” a good idea? My
fundamental concern is that somehow this easy mix up will obscure the self
dividing and controlling potential of shame.
More recently Brené Brown has sharpened the focus on these very different yet
easily confused concepts by re-labelling them in ways that feel not only more
accurate but much less murky and open to interpretation/confusion. What has
been described as toxic shame is what Brown merely calls shame. And she calls
healthy shame what it actually is, which is guilt. Brown also makes it clear
that feeling guilty can absolutely be a healthy thing, as this emotion can and
often does lead to positive behaviour change.
Best wishes,
Robert
On Thu, Mar 17, 2016 at 12:44 PM, Chris Walsh chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
wrote:
Hi all
What a wonderful and rich conversation!
The Western Shame Guilt literature is really messed up by the fact that almost
no thought is given to definitions and the authors assume we all understand the
same things by these words. Clearly we don't. This is particularly so in the
shame culture versus guilt culture literature.
It is useful to start with Bert Hellinger's revolutionary way of thinking about
guilt. Instead of seeing the feeling of guilt as being about legally or morally
right or wrong he reconceptualised guilt as something that arises when our
belonging is threatened. Once he gave examples it made complete sense and this
definition was liberating!
So guilt arises when belonging is threatened much the same as pain arises when
our physical body is under attack. Both of these are warning signals . They
both have emotions associated with them but they are not really emotions or
affects in and of themselves. Guilt elicits the emotions of anxiety and shame
just as pain elicits the emotions of distress and fear. So dividing cultures
into shame cultures and guilt cultures never really made sense.They are chalk
and cheese. I think this is why the idea never really caught on with the
general public.
What does make sense is that there are shame affirming and shame denying
cultures, with the West falling into the latter. In either culture, shame can
be misused to bully people into submission. That then fits with Fung seeing
shame as equivalent to guilt in the Eastern cultures. Shame is simply more
palpable as the emotional response to guilt than it is in the West where people
are more tuned in to the anxiety response.
I agree that honour is the opposite of toxic shame. In the west pride is more
seen as the opposite of shame. That difference is because honour, as Fung
describes it, refers to relationships, whereas pride is more of an
individualistic notion.
Fung gives us the clue that healthy dealing with shame means to face it and
acknowledge it. It means letting go of the toxic avoidance reactions of
attacking other, attacking self, avoiding other or avoiding self. These just
bind you deeper into toxic shame. The empathic therapist can be very helpful in
this process. It also means embracing the reparative aspect of healthy shame.
Without this the person who has experienced toxic shame will always be prone to
going back into toxic shame and they will never be truly resilient. To help
with the process of embracing healthy shame, a clear minded therapist can be
very helpful. A therapist can only be empathic enough and clear minded enough
to help others in this way, if they have already cleared their own toxic shame,
and learnt to embrace dampening/healthy shame.If you have done that then you
will have the capacity to deal elegantly with these issues when they arise in
constellations.
Cheers
Chris Walsh
Melbourne, Australia
ph +61 (0)3 9420 1425 <tel:%2B61%20%280%293%209420%201425>
www.cwalsh.com.au <http://www.cwalsh.com.au>
On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 9:10 AM, lap fung cheng ahfung@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ahfung@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
wrote:
Dear Chris, and all,
As a facilitator from oriental culture, I would like to add something to Shame
topic.
Oriental culture is usually labeled as shame culture, contrasting to western
guilt culture by academics.
My own observation for our culture:
1. Shame is equivalent to guilt from the perspective of conscience. Usually the
expression is shame-guilt complex, and that’s actually the literal translation
in our language.
2. Shame is usually paired up with Honour. e.g. if one’s deed is considered
“wrong” or deviated from common understanding of society, he/she may be
dishonoring his/her family and ancestors. If one’s deed is contributing to
prosperity of a group, he/she may be considered honoring his/her family and
ancestors.
3. Both victims and perpetrators may also experience shame feeling. Whether
shame is healthy or not may depend on if their attitude is facing or avoiding.
Victims experience shame of not taking their own responsibility, and lead to
rectifying action, this is healthy. Victims feel shame and hide away further
from crowd (e.g. being raped, being homosexual etc.), it is unhealthy.
Perpetrators experience shame and understand their harm to other, then they bow
to victims, this is healthy. Perpetrators experience shame, try to deny the
truth, and turn away, this is unhealthy.
Cheers.
Fung
在 2016年3月16日，上午5:39，'Jonine Lee Gabay' satoribreath@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:satoribreath@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]
<ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
写道：
Dear Chris, Hania and others
Zaquie I agree with you on the value of Bradshaws work and its a great
discussion helpful for us all. My understanding of the two types of Shame came
from study and work with John Bradshaw and his non shaming therapeutic model
for Innerchild work. His work in ‘Healing the Shame that Binds Us’ is so
valuable for understanding the entanglements and enmeshments that happen as a
consequence of shaming. While I love the work of Brene Brown his work takes a
deeper look at the darker aspects of shame.
Understanding the difference between healthy shame and toxic shame can at times
be challenging and so subtle, shame based people cover shame with shameless
shaming disguised in many ways and often as ‘love and caring’(often completely
unconscious of this) When shame is toxic, it is an excruciatingly painful
experience of unexpected exposure, as being seen as flawed and defective, less
than. It divides us from ourselves and from others and any possibility of true
connection and intimacy in relationship, when it is triggered it sets off many
of the responses you mentioned Chris.
Everyone needs a sense of shame, but no one needs to feel ashamed. ―Frederick
Nietzsche
The psychologist Erik Erikson talks about the psychosocial task during the
developmental stage of counter dependence being to strike a balance between
autonomy and shame and doubt, the full affect of shame experienced as limits
put on child’s need to separate and do things his or her own way. With healthy
caregivers this is encouraged with boundaries and limits and mistakes are
corrected in a loving caring way and reassurance given that the behaviour isn’t
ok, shame based parents with their own experience of feeling flawed and
defective will treat the child with disdain not separating the behaviour from
the child.
“Shame is a natural feeling that, when allowed to function well, monitors a
person's sense of excitement or pleasure. Healthy shame is an emotion that
teaches us about our limits. Like all emotions, shame moves us to get our basic
needs met. But when the feeling of shame is violated by a coercive and
perfectionistic religion and culture―especially by shame-based source figures
―it becomes an all-embracing identity.”
A person with internalized shame (toxic) believes he is inherently flawed,
inferior and defective. Such a feeling is so painful that defending scripts (or
strategies) are developed to cover it up. These scripts are the roots of
violence, criminality, war and all forms of addiction.” (Bradshaw, Healing the
Shame that binds us, more than 25 yrs ago references Sylvan Thomkins model)
Bradshaw also shares below from the earliest known writing on shame.
The earliest treatise on shame was written by Annnibale Pocaterra, born in
1562. Awareness of Pocaterra's book, Two Dialogues on Shame, came from Donald
Nathanson's comprehensive book Shame and Pride. According to Nathanson,
Pocaterra wrote his book on shame at age thirty. His book was the only
scholarly work on shame until Darwin wrote about it three hundred years later.
Pocaterra died a few months after publishing his book. (see Shame and Pride,
pages 443–445).
In the beginning of his book, Pocaterra tells us that 'in the end shame is a
good thing, a part of everyday existence.' Shame, according to Pocaterra, makes
us timorous, humble and contrite and causes outrage against the self.
When we are attacked by shame, Pocaterra says we 'would like nothing better
than to run and hide from the eyes of the world.' He also describes shame as
the 'fear of infamy,' which can lead a person to attack his enemy with passion.
Shame is thus capable of both cowardice and bravery. Long before Silvan
Tomkins's treatise on shame, Pocaterra posited that our emotions are innate and
that 'they are only good or evil as the end to which they are used.' There is
an innate and a learned component to all emotion. 'Therefore,' Pocaterra
writes, 'there must be two shames, one natural and free from awareness and the
other acquired.'
Pocaterra understood shame to be our teacher. He thought the shame of children
was like a seed that will become a small plant in youth and leads to virtue at
maturity. Pocaterra looked at blushing as the external sign of shame and
believed that blushing was both the recognition of having made a mistake as
well as the desire to make amends. Three hundred years later Darwin would posit
blushing as that which distinguishes us from all other animals. Darwin knew
that the mother of the blush was shame. For Darwin, shame defines our essential
humanity. Silvan Tomkins views shame as an innate feeling that limits our
experience of interest, curiosity and pleasure.
We could discuss this topic for a year and never exhausted its value! Thanks
everyone, and always your good questions Vinay
Jonine
Jonine Lee Gabay
Mindfulness based Breathwork Therapy I Family Constellations I Counselling I
Coaching I NLP
M 0402 067 024 <tel:0402%20067%20024> <tel:0402%20067%20024> I E
<mailto:jonine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> jonine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:jonine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> I W
<http://www.coreconnectiontrainings.com/> www.coreconnectiontrainings.com
<http://www.coreconnectiontrainings.com>
"Walking, I am listening to a deeper way. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind
me.
Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of
thousands.""Walking, I am listening to a deeper way. Suddenly all my ancestors
are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the
love of thousands."
From: <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> [
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Wednesday, 16 March 2016 4:12 AM
To: <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] Shame
Dear Hania and all,
I entirely agree with Hania about shame. Id like to add that I find one of the
greatest pleasure of the “ predator” is to keep the other one “ small” and Full
of shame. Small.
Even though the mistake may be small…but the tendency is to dominate the other
one thru “ shame”. You will be punished…and continue to be punished…
Pay your errors…
It is easy to see the “ predator” in us. If we have a tendency to keep the
other one “ small” and “ paying for his mistakes” even the small ones. We feel
“ on top” and the other “ submissive”
Whatever “ the error” .
Shame is instilled.
One of the greatest book on shame I have ever read is “ Healing the Shame that
Binds You” by John Bradshaw and that helped me a lot.
Zaquie C Meredith, Sao Paulo, Brazil
<http://www.zaquie.com/> www.zaquie.com <http://www.zaquie.com>
<mailto:zaquie@xxxxxxxxxx> zaquie@xxxxxxxxxx <mailto:zaquie@xxxxxxxxxx>
(011) 979978808 (Vivo)
<http://www.facebook/com/zaquie.meredith> www.facebook/com/zaquie.meredith
<http://www.facebook/com/zaquie.meredith>
<http://linkedin.com/in/zaquie> Linkedin.com/in/zaquie
youtube:zaquiemeredith
twitter:zaquiemeredith
From: < <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
on behalf of "Leslie Nipps <mailto:lnipps@xxxxxxxxx> lnipps@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:lnipps@xxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk]" <
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
Reply-To: < <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 1:38 PM
To: Constellation Talk < <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] Shame
I just got a great deal out of the dialogue between Hania and Chris, so thank
you! I can feel the systemic connection between shame and what Hania is calling
humility. Can’t we all remember a representation in which we were resisting,
resisting shame, and then we let go, and there is was, the bliss of humility in
its place? So, they are surely connected. Whether more like the way Hania
describes it, or as Chris describes it (dampening as a lesser form of
shame—connected to humility perhaps?), I think we can all feel the systemic
desires hidden in shame, and how it can be a gift if we look for them.
Having said all that, there is a great difference between all this and using
shaming systematically with a client - I think we have two different
conversations overlapping here (one about the systemics of shame, and one about
using shame as a facilitator tool). I can say that systemically, the role of
shaming the client at a recent Hellinger event was less about the client per
se, and more about influencing the larger group. One never knew if the next
client was going to be the love-bombed one, or the shamed one. And it led to
lots of interesting compliance behaviors from both clients and the rest of the
gathering. People who don’t see it as shaming will argue vociferously that it’s
very good for the client who wasn’t “ready” (or some such). Even considering
that it might mean something different can be very upsetting for people who
have a lot of emotional well-being caught up in the “goodness” of the leader. I
think it’s more about a leader and their followers, than it is about an attempt
at a meaningful client intervention.
Peace, Leslie
The Rev. Leslie Nipps
NLP & Family Constellations Practitioner
“Trust as a Way of Life…”
<http://www.leslienipps.com/> www.leslienipps.com <http://www.leslienipps.com>
Co-Director, 2015 North American Systemic Constellations Conference in San
Diego on November 12-15.
Visit <http://constellateus.com/conference2015>
ConstellateUs.com/conference2015 for more information
On Mar 15, 2016, at 6:35 AM, Hania Gorski <mailto:haniagorski@xxxxxxxxx>
haniagorski@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:haniagorski@xxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk] <
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Hi Chris and All,
I would like to bring the point, that there are different concepts of shame,
and different definitions.
Chris, I respectfully disagree with you - I see that it's a kind of your
definition, or interpretation of shame, as looking at "adaptive" and "healthy"
function of shame.
I see the topic you're describing - as a misconstruction of mixing shame with
humbleness.
The ritual of bowing has nothing in common with shame and it's actually
opposite - it's gentle, humble respect and acknowledgement of being small (yes,
shrinking from being too big, a very healthy process). That is description of
being humble, not shamed.
Humbleness is healthy and adaptive, and facilitates deep growth.
Shame - in my opinion, and my therapeutic/facilitator experience - is never a
good motivator as it's impossible to bring any real goodness by imposing
negativity, like cleaning a floor with a dirty cloth.
It always brings a sense of isolation, alienation, separation, not connection.
Shame stands next to fear and guilt and rejection, and it was used along with
all these negative "tools" as an effective social control/power weapon
(sometimes deadly) in the history of human kind, and it is still used. It
was/is also widely used in raising children to make them obedient and
disconnected from themselves in order to serve adult society purposes.
Shame is also inseparable from family "dirty" secrets, sexual abuse trauma, and
domestic violence.
Shame is a toxic tool of domination in relationships, separating people from
each other, and from Love, therefore it's against Orders of Love. That's my
definition.
No surprise that we deal with shame in constellation work; from the beginning,
in a process of offering clients constellation, we see facets of shame in
family system - visible even in our clients' resistance to work in a group
setting.
Groups/constellation workshops are potential theatres of shame and
retraumatisation, so it is so extremely important for the facilitator to be
aware of these dynamics, and to not step into/re-create the shame space. The
Knowing Field is also a potential mining field.
Thanks Robert for posting the link to Vivien Broughton article about ethics in
constellation facilitation - what she listed as good qualities of a
facilitator, emphasises importance of navigating through the constellation
process in such way that doesn't deepen shame and doesn't retraumatise clients
(and representatives).
I'd like to respond also to the beginning of this thread when someone asked
about experiences with shame in constellations.
I had a very interesting and learning experience as a representative; I was
representing a father of the client; this father was a son of a man who was
caught up as a paedophile.
While I was standing in my representative role, I've experienced few feelings
and body sensations/movements. One of the leading feelings was an enormous
shame, felt as unforgivable guilt/shame and alienation; my body was heavy under
these feelings, like a lifeless heavy bag, and my eyes were glued to the floor.
Unfortunately, the facilitator didn't ask for my report as a representative for
a long time (even if the main enquiry from the client was about her
relationship with her father whom I was representing).
The facilitator was stating aloud that the father is looking at dead, and
bringing representative for dead. Later on, when it was not leading anywhere, I
was asked for the report, and I stated my feelings of shame (with few others).
When the shame was brought and acknowledged, a process of healing begun, and
gradually I could see my daughter. That was bringing a further healing to the
daughter.
I'd like to respond also to someone mentioning prof. Brene Brown, a researcher
of vulnerability and shame. I love her concepts and presentations, she brings a
lot of new air to understanding of social dynamics of shame and vulnerability
in society and culture. She clearly distinguishes shame from humbleness, and
her research proves that shame damages and alienates people. Her antidote to
shame - in short - is courage and authenticity, which implies humbleness and
acceptance of our imperfections.
Her findings are great in a broad social context as Brene Brown focuses mainly
on social/cultural/gender context of shame (she is a professor of social work
at Texas University).
She calls herself a shame researcher, but unfortunately she doesn't go to shame
issues in a trauma/family system context.
That area of shame still awaits to be explored fully, as some of B.B. proposals
of resolving shame are not really helpful for traumatised clients who are
deeply buried in shame.
I think that shame is so important and rich topic, and there are so interesting
cultural specifics regarding reasons and expressions of shame. We need to be
aware of these cross-cultural subtleties.
I hope to hear more from our forum members.
Best regards
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Hania Gorski, Melbourne
Psychologist, Relationship Coach, Systemic Therapist
Mobile: <tel:+61%20400%20225%20357> +61 400 225 357
<tel:%2B61%20400%20225%20357>
Email: <mailto:haniagorski@xxxxxxxxx> haniagorski@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:haniagorski@xxxxxxxxx>
Website: <http://www.wholerelationships.com%20%20www.familysystemic.com ;
<http://20www.familysystemic.com> %20%20www.integritysources.com/
<http://20www.integritysources.com/> > www.wholerelationships.com
<http://www.wholerelationships.com> www.familysystemic.com
<http://www.familysystemic.com> www.integritysources.com
<http://www.integritysources.com>
The world, I’ve come to think, is like the surface of a frozen lake. We walk
along, we slip, we try to keep our balance and not to fall. One day, there’s a
crack, and so we learn that underneath us — is an unimaginable depth. James
Joyce
On 15 March 2016 at 22:16, 'Cristina Casanova' <mailto:krsna-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
krsna-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:krsna-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk] <
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Learning to stay with the affect of shame in the body, and discharging the
emotion without reacting, finding a creative answers gives me an immense
freedom to be.
From: <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto: ;<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ]
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 4:10 AM
To: <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] Shame
Thanks for that Cristina
You have given us Tomkins description of what elicits the affect of shame and I
think it is a great starting point.
If as constellation practitioners we understood affect/ emotions better we
could do a much better job.
Personally I do have some problems with Tomkins theory. Firstly the word shame
is far too strong for most people and they automatically equate it with a toxic
form of shame where it spirals out of control in much the same way as anxiety
can when it becomes panic. So "shame" is a difficult word. A better word for
the mild version of that feeling is dampening as in "His excitement was
dampened." We can intuitively tell that this is accurate because when we say
someone is shameless we mean they won't let go of their excitement, they won't
admit they have made a mistake.
With the word dampening, it is now much more possible to see the adaptive value
of shame. Then it is much more possible to have a sensible discussion. It is
then possible to see there is a mild version of shame called dampening which
has a lot of qualities that are identical to the severe form called shame or
humiliation. Both slow us down physically and cognitively. Dampening helps us
to step back and take stock and then act more skillfully. Shame can paralyse us.
Despite this shame feels quite different to dampening just as panic feels quite
different to mild anxiety. The way to deal with panic is to develop a friendly
relationship with anxiety. The way to deal with shame is to develop a friendly
relationship with dampening.
Cheers
Chris Walsh
Melbourne, Australia
ph <tel:%2B61%20%280%293%C2%A09420%201425> +61 (0)3 9420 1425
<tel:%2B61%20%280%293%209420%201425>
<http://www.cwalsh.com.au/> www.cwalsh.com.au <http://www.cwalsh.com.au>
On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 12:13 PM, 'Cristina Casanova'
<mailto:krsna-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> krsna-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:krsna-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk] <
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Shame is an affect wired into the nervous system. It happens when joy and
interest are interrupted and it is felt by people in different degrees.
From: <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto: ;<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ]
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 8:42 PM
To: <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] Shame
Hi Chris,
I am not so sure about “shameless is untrustworthy”. The colloquial use of
shameless is perhaps someone who will not hold back in the face of possible
disapproval or rejection. That may not make them unloving and therefore
untrustworthy.
Buddhism not with standing, could it be that shame is an unequivocal sign of
trauma? Would the healthy, happy and wise still need the intense fear of shame
or self rejection as an impulse control mechanism? Shall we throw out that
baby, bathwater and all?
Best wishes,
Robert
On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 10:30 AM, Chris Walsh <mailto:chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [ConstellationTalk] <
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Thanks Cristina
Sylvan Tomkins and his followers including Donald Nathanson are the only people
I know who define shame in a meaningful way when they talk about it. Without a
definition much of the conversation about shame ends up being a series of
misunderstandings where people are talking cross purposes.
Tomkins describes shame as being a flattening emotion (or affect to be precise)
that makes us lose energy, makes us clumsy and stops us from thinking clearly.
Despite that, like all of our emotions, it has adaptive value. It dampens our
excitement when it is misdirected. There is a linguistic clue to that when we
look at the word "shameless".
Someone who is shameless is untrustworthy because they don't pay any attention
to social constraints. Shame is important for socialisation and fitting into
groups. Of course it can be misused to beat people into shape but let's not
commit the error of throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
It is interesting that Steve who is working with Asian cultures raised this
topic. Asian cultures are less individualistic and prioritise collective
wellbeing. As such they treat shaming more delicately. They are very aware of
it in the concept of "face". Saving face is extremely important for the
Chinese. Causing someone to lose face is a very serious matter.
Unfortunately we in the West have gone from ignoring shame to demonising it -
especially in therapeutic circles. As far as I am concerned that is still a
very primitive response. Shame needs to be integrated, to be given a place and
included and to be valued as an adaptive emotion. Only then can we have a
healthy relationship with shame - Sounds like a constellation doesn't it!
Cheers
Chris Walsh
Melbourne, Australia
ph <tel:%2B61%20%280%293%C2%A09420%201425> +61 (0)3 9420 1425
<tel:%2B61%20%280%293%209420%201425>
<http://www.cwalsh.com.au/> www.cwalsh.com.au <http://www.cwalsh.com.au>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
--
Cheers
Chris Walsh
Melbourne, Australia
ph +61 (0)3 9420 1425
www.cwalsh.com.au <http://www.cwalsh.com.au>
