That's space video.

Hi there, it's Sam.

Welcome to Radio Headspace and to Friday, and my last episode for a few months.

Today I want to unpack the feeling of shame, as it's so ubiquitous and relevant to all

of us to some extent.

Of all the difficult emotions, I think shame is one of the toughest.

In moments of shame, we feel a sense of unworthiness that we're undeserving of love and belonging.

And I also want to point out the difference between guilt and shame, as these words are often

confused.

We can think of guilt as a healthier emotion, and this is because with guilt, we see our

actions as negative instead of our entire selves as flawed and irreparable.

Guilt allows us to empathize, helping us to reflect on the impact that our actions have

on others.

Shame, however, creates a vortex of self-remination that makes it impossible to access empathy.

That's why shame can be such a dangerous emotion.

When people feel shame often enough, they can harbor violent urges toward the people

shaming them.

And research shows that adolescents are particularly susceptible to the pain of shame, as their young

lives center on social ties.

It's important to note that the experience of shame and guilt are, to some extent, culturally

bound.

For example, research has shown that an interdependent cultural context, like those of Taiwan and

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