Where Self-Worth Begins
As adults, we don’t always consider how early life experiences impact us now. People will often be dismissive of things that happened in their childhood, saying it was ‘normal’ for their family or their culture. Things might have been ‘normal’, but that does not mean it was okay.
Religious abuse and purity culture can be very damaging. You might have been shamed for normal experiences such as exploring your body, having feelings for someone or asking questions. These things are all completely normal for a young person who is trying to find their identity and learning to think for themselves. If when you did these things, you were labelled as sinful, dangerous, or shameful, it may have affected how you see yourself now.
Instead of feeling confident in yourself, maybe you second-guess your thoughts, your feelings, and even your self-worth. You might have a self-critical voice, that tells you you’re not good enough, or that you are weak. Have you ever considered why you developed this self-critical voice?
Religious abuse and purity culture can be very damaging. You might have been shamed for normal experiences such as exploring your body, having feelings for someone or asking questions. These things are all completely normal for a young person who is trying to find their identity and learning to think for themselves. If when you did these things, you were labelled as sinful, dangerous, or shameful, it may have affected how you see yourself now.
Instead of feeling confident in yourself, maybe you second-guess your thoughts, your feelings, and even your self-worth. You might have a self-critical voice, that tells you you’re not good enough, or that you are weak. Have you ever considered why you developed this self-critical voice?