"Shame"

Shame is something somewhat similar to guilt - something we experience when we do something "wrong."

This, also, is not necessarily a problem. There is a name for a person who lacks shame: "sociopath."

Still, this can become a problem - for example, all your emotions can be wrapped in shame. You can be ashamed of your anger, ashamed of your sexuality, ashamed of your body, your job, your social status, your emotions . . . virtually anything.

Similar to "low self-esteem"

Carry it around like baggage.

Hiding, something you're ashamed of.
an internalized negative self-image
a trance formed by experience (such as a failure)

If you're surrounded by people who enjoy embarrassing you or putting you down, eventually this becomes a habit. If you have a series of humiliating experiences with people, you can then generalize that all experiences with people will be humiliating, and then expect it.

Associated with shyness

Shame is what anger turns into when it's not expressed and turned out towards an extrenal target. Say your father does something and you get boiling angry; if you do not direct it out to him - it has to go somewhere - you're left holding the hot potato - it collapses in on you. It's like throwing a grenade that never makes it out the window.

"A fall from grace" - Adam & Eve were fine naked (the way little children are), then they changed consciousness and became self-conscious and ashamed.

most people hide their weaknesses
bad strategy
- ineffective, will fail when they are accepted, and accepted publically, they become strengths
"Peter Perfects" are fake, and so, aren't loved
So instead of tucking them away and putting on a good front
"Charisma is public self acceptance"
- what are you accepting? What FEELS like your "flaws/weaknesses".
What is that process like? Stage one "Oh shit" Stage two "groan" Stage three "here goes" etc.

"Shame is pride's cloak."
- William Blake

The father of shame is resentment.

Suggestions:

Soul Without Shame
This can serve as an introduction to The Diamond Approach

Meditation

See "The Lion King"