It requires great effort, however, to keep before us this vision of being part of a great gathering of people cheering us on, telling us “Well done!” as we move through life. This is one of the first and most helpful steps in combating shame. It entails creating communities around us who are reminding us of the same thing that Jesus heard at his baptism. Our struggle against shame is begun not by ourselves but in the company of trustworthy friends, family members and spiritual mentors. Remember, isolation is one of shame’s primary methods.
