Friends get into competition with us and find subtle ways to put us down. Sometimes, the condemnation is heaped on our heads from pulpits in this land. Maybe you're ashamed of something you did or something you are. Maybe you're embarrassed by your appearance because you don't fit somebody's vision of beauty. Maybe you lack the self-confidence to take the risks required for growth, accomplishment, and service.
Shame kills relationships, too.
Shame strikes deepest into the human heart. Shame should not be confused with guilt. Guilt is when you know you are responsible for doing damage. It leads you to make amends, change your ways, do better. But shame is an attack on your abiding character.