Name on the Board

"Dad, I felt something today - I'm not sure what to call it."

The Dad asks the young son to tell him more.

"Dad, I'm sorry but I kept talking in class, and after the teacher asked me to stop, I kept going. After the third time she wrote my name on the board. And everyone could see it. It felt strange - more than being embarrassed - my stomach was heavy, and I hugged myself. Do you know what that's called?"

"That sounds like shame son. What did you do next?"

"I went up to the teacher and made up a lie to go to the sick room. I had to get out of there."

"That makes sense."

Shame.

Its more than what we're built for, and hard to describe.

Sure, it might be prompted by a bad choice we make - but its not nice to have our failing put on display.

We want to escape the scrutiny - we might even lie to do it. Especially when the person in power holds the whiteboard marker.

How do we respond to shame?

It makes sense to honestly name what it is we're feeling. And perhaps to do whatever it takes to come out from under the power that holds us.