Self-worth and things that
sometimes get in the way


Many of us harbor feelings of fear, guilt, and shame. We see ourselves as flawed and are plagued by critical and contemptuous inner voices. When we allow these voices to determine what we do, we experience deep emotional—and even physical—pain. Our lives become driven by the need to avoid this pain "at all costs,"—which translates into acting out through compulsive behaviors, thereby increasing our shame and guilt.

This cycle of fear, guilt, and shame robs us of our natural enthusiasm for life and its adventures. We no longer set goals that call us forth into greater experiences of ourselves.

We experience less and less satisfaction and therefore diminish our capacity for cheerfulness. We stop living and begin dying.

Today I make a commitment to embrace life with enthusiasm.