On Shame, Guilt, and Why It All Matters so much

Shame is one of the most powerful and dangerous emotions we carry. In short we feel shame because we don't feel that our existence is valid unless we do something to deserve it.

In my words, “shame is the feeling that something is deeply wrong with us—not just with something we did, but with who we are”.
It makes us feel unworthy, wrong, isolated and paralyzed. It’s not logical or fair; shame doesn’t care about context. It tells us that we, as people, are bad, unworthy, less.

Shame can be "activated" by anything — what’s important is how it makes us feel.
We might feel it because we struggle with something others find easy, like math. Or because we have a different past, different hobbies, or don’t earn as much. Maybe we feel ashamed because of how we look, or because we don’t fit into certain norms. Maybe we have mental or physical disabilities. Maybe we eat meat or drive a car, or we don't go to protests, or can't afford to change certain habits even if we wanted to. 

Here’s what I believe and strive to tell with the Heartline: we are all valid. 
I’m not saying everything we do is fine or harmless. I’m saying that our existence—our being—is not wrong. We all make mistakes. We all do things that hurt others or the planet. That doesn’t make us worthless.
We can still be accountable and take responsibility. 

Feeling shame can really hold us back from taking any steps towards change. Before we can really act, we need to feel valid. 

You can demand climate action and still drive a car. What matters is that you take the step when the chance comes to make a change. If you don’t do it this time, I hope you do it the next time, just don't stop trying.

You’re not alone in this. None of us are. The Heartline is meant to make us feel that we are doing it together.