When you come across a teacher whose words hit you on such a deep, somatic, soul-based level that they fundamentally change how you see yourself and the world...
David Bedrick is one of those teachers for me.
I first discovered David through his collaboration with Simone Seol in The Shame Clinic for entrepreneurs, and his work has been an absolute game-changer for my life and business working with highly sensitive women who've experienced trauma.
Here are a few snippets of what I've learned from David:
He once said, "Shame isn't just a feeling - it's an internalized vision of ourselves."
When we believe something is fundamentally wrong with us, that message gets recorded into our consciousness.
It severs our trust with our innate intelligence and wisdom.
We stop looking inside for what's right about us and instead constantly seek validation and answers from the outside.
It's not just about what happened -- between you and the perpetrator(s) -- it's about whether anyone witnessed your pain with love (including yourself).
Without that witness, as David explains, the wound gets 'wrapped up and freezes,' and instead of thinking 'I need healing,' we think 'what's wrong with me?'
In other words, when our pain is met with denial, dismissal, or gaslighting, we internalize those shaming responses and begin to treat ourselves as if we're the problem.
In this profound conversation, David and I explore:
Why there's no trauma healing without shame healingThe revolutionary concept of the "witness" and its impact on healing
How to trust your body's intelligence instead of pathologizing your responses
Why shame acts as a protective shell around our core wounds
How to become your own loving witness
This convo is an invitation to see yourself through loving eyes and reclaim authorship of your own story 💙
Where to Connect with David Bedrick & Find his Work:
📖 His Latest Book: "The Unshaming Way: A Compassionate Guide to Dismantling Shame" - available in print, Kindle, and audiobook wherever books are sold
🌐 Website: https://www.davidbedrick.com/ - Find free resources, courses, and his complete body of work
📱 Instagram: @david.bedrick https://www.instagram.com/david.bedrick/
🏫 Santa Fe Institute for Shame-Based Studies: David's institute where he trains therapists, coaches, and healers in UnShaming techniques and offers workshops for personal development
📚 Other Books by David:
"Talking Back to Dr. Phil: Alternatives to Mainstream Psychology"
"You Can't Judge a Body by Its Cover: 17 Women's Stories of Hunger, Body Shame and Redemption"
"Revisioning Activism: Bringing Depth, Dialogue, and Diversity to Individual and Social Change"