by rick_patterson | Apr 14, 2019 | Racism, Shame
I was recently reminded that shame drives racism when we ignorantly project our own self-contempt onto others. A fella came to look at a bull this weekend. He asked me about the barn fire and whether or not they caught the guy that burnt it down. I told him they did...
by rick_patterson | Apr 4, 2019 | Failure, Fear, Growth, Shame
Failure is a crushing word to many (most) people. We avoid it like the plague. Yet we also say we believe that life’s greatest achievements come through failure. In fact, many of the greatest successes in the world will remind us of this very fact – from Benjamin...
by rick_patterson | Mar 31, 2019 | Christianity, Psychology, Shame, Spirituality
I’ve spent years in Christian training and ministry. As such, I’m often asked about the relationship between Christianity and shame. Ultimately, this relationship boils down to the cross. What did it mean? Why did it happen? What does it say to us? How did...
by rick_patterson | Jan 19, 2019 | Courage, Growth, Narcissism, Uncategorized
Shame unmasked can lead to recovery from narcissism – though it can be a long, hard battle. We talk a lot about Narcissism today – especially in our heated political climate. It’s fairly well understood how much narcissists irritate us and how...
by rick_patterson | Dec 31, 2018 | Uncategorized
If you ever wondered where shame came from, it’s an uncertain topic. All we know is that it’s in everyone. The bible offers an interesting glimpse at the first time a person comes face to face with shame. From there on out in the bible shame becomes fairly...
by rick_patterson | Oct 20, 2018 | Growth, Narcissism, Psychology, Shame
I am Rev. Dr. Rick Patterson and I’m a narcissist. More accurately, I’m a recovering narcissist. There was an article in Psychology today[1] with the headline “Empathy, the Ability that Makes us Truly Human”. As a shame researcher myself, I generally agree. It’s also...
by rick_patterson | Nov 16, 2017 | Christianity, Psychology, Shame, Success
Narcissism brings pain to many Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don’t mean to do harm– but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the...
by rick_patterson | Nov 11, 2017 | Christianity, Pride, Psychology, Shame
Is it all really about pride? Pride vs shame is a complicated question that, frankly, is quite simple. I am frequently challenged to explain the difference between pride and shame; usually from people with some or extensive experience in Christianity. I aim to show...
by rick_patterson | Sep 22, 2017 | Achievement, Psychology, Shame, Uncategorized
The psychology of employee recognition has always caught my interest – maybe because I’m so motivated by it myself! I speak to this in great detail in my book relative to how I saw it running throughout my employment in corporate America and how I used it...
by rick_patterson | Sep 20, 2017 | Achievement, Christianity, Fear, Psychology, Shame
“God’s call for me” has been a life conundrum of mine. From Corporate America To Ministry and Back In 2001, I left corporate America (the paper industry) to go full time into ministry since I had recently received my Master’s Degree in Divinity. It...
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