Shame is a deep, painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the awareness of wrong or foolish behavior. It often involves negative self-evaluation and can lead to feelings of worthlessness and isolation. In emotional intelligence, understanding shame helps us recognize when we feel deficient or unworthy, which can be crucial for personal growth. According to the Geneva Emotion Wheel, shame has a valence of -0.7 (highly negative) and an arousal level of 0.3 (medium), indicating it is a distressing but not necessarily highly energizing emotion.
Using Inner
Using Inner, you can track patterns of shame by journaling about when and why it arises. Pay attention to physical sensations like tightness in the chest or a sinking feeling in the stomach. Explore regulation strategies such as self-compassion exercises or talking to a trusted friend to process your feelings.
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