Author: Will Williams

  • Get Thin! But not too fast!

    Get Thin! But not too fast!

    Here’s a nice example of how magazines like this are written to feed off your shame levels. As if the covers weren’t bad enough, once you see whats inside then your shame levels will be manipulated even more so you buy the shit that’s being advertised.

  • “I don’t know what came over me” – well maybe it was your shame-induced lizard brain

    “I don’t know what came over me” – well maybe it was your shame-induced lizard brain

    I don’t need to tell you that people can absolutely change in a second when put under extreme anxious pressure – I’m sure you can remember your own experiences of this. Decent people can do incredibly bad things when their fear levels reach certain heights and protective mechanisms kick in. Here’s why…

  • Shame anxiety shouldn’t be trivialized

    Shame anxiety shouldn’t be trivialized

    The anxious effects of feeling threatened and “not good enough” are very human, and they really don’t deserve the added feelings of being “broken” that more ignorant people are quick to suggest. “Pull yourself together!” “Get over it!” “Life’s too short!” Such impatience and lack of empathy is more often than not coming from a…

  • Learning from Mr Benn

    Learning from Mr Benn

    I was having a conversation with my brother about something we call the hidden handbrake, that feeling of something holding you back despite your best efforts. He had this great idea that we’d touched on before – an idea that was perfectly illustrated by the awesome Mr Benn.

  • Do You Have a Hidden Handbrake Too?

    Do You Have a Hidden Handbrake Too?

    You know that feeling where no matter how hard you try and push forward in life, you feel like something is holding you back and you get nowhere? I’ve talked about this with a few different people – those feelings of being held back. Sometimes the conversation is just a case of “hidden barriers”, or…

  • We’re all alone in this together

    We’re all alone in this together

    Years ago I knew this guy who was your typical laddy bloke – extrovert, a loud laugh, confident, fitted in well, played sports, enjoyed banter and going out, got overly excited about new Bond movies – that kind of thing. He met a girl at University, they’re still together, and he became a solicitor.  But…

  • Everyone feels the effects of shame

    You’re probably already more of an expert than you know, at least on the feelings and effects of shame-based anxiety – having likely used many efforts in wrestling with, hiding, denying and coping with them. Even if you don’t realize it.

  • Some Friendly Words of Caution…

    Just a few pointers, so that you don’t fall into some common traps. Like becoming annoying to people, blaming your parents for everything, or using it as an excuse to hide behind.

  • Shame is a vicious circle

    The tiniest seed of self-doubt – the smallest implication that you might be flawed – can grow and grow into a whole neurosis over time that could ruin your life. With incredibly destructive consequences.

  • Why shame resilience is useful

    When you learn to notice feelings of shame, you earn a special reward – the option to do something about it. I’ll share some personal examples of how my own shame awareness has made me look at situations completely differently.