“The major problem in our lives is to decide and clarify our responsibilities. To truly be committed to a life of honesty,… — John Bradshaw Character Copy Share Image
Our sadness is an energy we discharge in order to heal. …Sadness is painful. We try to avoid it. Actually discharging sadness… — John Bradshaw Emotional Copy Share Image
“Our healthy shame is essential as the foundation of our spirituality. By reminding us of our essential limitations, our healthy shame lets… — John Bradshaw Health Copy Share Image
“A very young child cannot understand that his dad is a sick alcoholic. Children are limited in logical ability. Their earliest way… — John Bradshaw Children Copy Share Image
“SHAME AS AN IDENTITY (THE INTERNALIZATION PROCESS) Any human emotion can become internalized. When internalized, an emotion stops functioning as an emotion… — John Bradshaw Identity Copy Share Image
“Because the exposure of self to self lies at the heart of neurotic shame, escape from the self is necessary. The escape… — John Bradshaw Authentic self Copy Share Image
Growing up means leaving home and becoming a self supporting adult. I think this the hardest task any human being hast to… — John Bradshaw Adults Copy Share Image
“We humans are finite, “perfectly imperfect.” Limitation is our essential nature. Grave problems result from refusing to accept our limits. Healthy shame… — John Bradshaw Nature Copy Share Image
“Shame is internalized when one is abandoned. Abandonment is the precise term to describe how one loses one’s authentic self and ceases… — John Bradshaw Abuse Copy Share Image
The drivenness in any addiction is about the ruptured self, the belief that one is flawed as a person. The content of… — John Bradshaw Addiction Copy Share Image
“When two-year-olds are thwarted (like every three minutes), they have intense anger and temper tantrums. At this stage the child needs to… — John Bradshaw Children Copy Share Image
“In the face of it, we are powerless. All recovering persons come to a turning point in their lives precipitated by the… — John Bradshaw Addiction Copy Share Image
The idea of evil is always subject to denial as a coping mechanism. — John Bradshaw Always Copy Share Image
“Toxic shame results from the unexpected exposure of vulnerable aspects of a child’s self. This exposure takes place before the child has… — John Bradshaw Children Copy Share Image
Healthy shame is an emotion that teaches us about our limits. Like all emotions, shame moves us to get our basic needs… — John Bradshaw Basic needs Copy Share Image
“A child can only experience his feelings when there is someone there who fully accepts them, names them and supports them. Another… — John Bradshaw Authentic self Copy Share Image
“The agony of this chronic stage of being cannot be endured for long. At the deepest level, toxic shame triggers our basic… — John Bradshaw Shame Copy Share Image
I have never met an aggressive person who wasn’t a fearful person. — John Bradshaw Aggressive Copy Share Image
It's essential to tell the truth at all times. This will reduce life's pain. Lying distorts reality. All forms of distorted thinking… — John Bradshaw Life Copy Share Image
“Once an emotion is toxically shame bound, one feels numb. The emotional avoidance is sealed by learning to avoid the avoidance.” — John Bradshaw Copy Share Image
“Another dynamic aspect of the sexual conversion of basic needs is the pleasure of sexual orgasm itself. When one is shamed through… — John Bradshaw Communication Copy Share Image
“Toxic shame, with its more-than-human, less-than-human polarization, is either inhuman or dehumanizing. The demand for a false self to cover and hide… — John Bradshaw Authentic self Copy Share Image
“Richard Bandler suggested that one of the major blocks to creativity was the feeling of knowing you are right. When we think… — John Bradshaw Creativity Copy Share Image
“committed to a life of honesty, love and discipline, we must be willing to commit ourselves to reality.” — John Bradshaw Discipline Copy Share Image
