Shame is the fear of disconnection: Is there something about me that, if other people know it or see it, that I won’t be worthy of connection?

It’s universal; we all have it. The only people who don’t experience shame have no capacity for human empathy or connection. No one wants to talk about it, and the less you talk about it, the more you have it. What underpinned this shame, this “I’m not good enough,” was excruciating vulnerability. This idea of, in order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen, really seen.