When Your Past Shadows Your Present: The Evolution of Healing Childhood Shame

Send us a text

Have you ever felt tears streaming down your face and suddenly realized you're crying about something that happened decades ago? That's exactly what happened to me recently, triggering a profound realization about how childhood shame continues to shape our adult lives.

In this raw, vulnerable episode, I share my personal breakthrough moment that occurred while I was door dashing, when a simple interaction with my husband unleashed decades of buried emotion. At 64 years old, I found myself confronting the same patterns of emotional eating and shame that began when I was just seven years old, sneaking bread with butter and sugar in my parents' pantry.

The journey of healing from childhood trauma isn't linear or neat. It comes in waves – there's the crash of realization, followed by calm where you think you've conquered it, only to be hit by another emotional storm when you least expect it. God, in His wisdom, seems to understand we can only process so much at once, sending these healing opportunities in manageable doses.

What makes shame particularly insidious is how it differs from guilt. While guilt tells us we DID something wrong, shame convinces us we ARE wrong. When my father would ask, "Why can't you be more like your sister?" he wasn't criticizing a specific action but my entire being. Those words embedded themselves in my psyche, creating a narrative that I was fundamentally flawed and unworthy of love.

Whether you're dealing with your own childhood trauma or watching your adult children process theirs, this episode offers hope and practical insights for breaking generational patterns. I share the techniques I'm using to counter shame statements with truth, and why having healing conversations with parents while they're still alive can be so valuable.

Listen now to discover how recognizing your shame patterns is the first step toward true freedom. Your worth isn't something to earn—it's your birthright, a truth within waiting to be reclaimed. Join our community of fellow healers as we journey together toward becoming who we were always meant to be.

Support the show