ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author explores the definitions and characteristics of shame from both psychological and Christian perspectives. Christian clients learn about shame-proneness, repetitive negative thinking, and the “danger,” “drive,” and “contentment” systems (Gilbert, 2010). Finally, Christian clients are able to compare and contrast mindfulness and Christian apophatic meditation, learning about how the latter can be used to simultaneously (a) relate differently to difficult inner experiences of shame and negative self-judgments, and (b) turn to God to connect to the “contentment” system. Although shame and self-criticism are unfortunate realities because of the fall of humankind, the author suggests in the first chapter that the practices in the workbook can help Christian clients to shift from “earthly-mindedness” to “heavenly-mindedness” so as to find rest in God—the author of the “contentment” system (Burroughs, 2010; Gilbert, 2010).
