by rick_patterson | Jan 17, 2021 | Courage, Psychology, Shame, Suicide
Suicide: the Hidden Time Bomb I just went to a funeral for a young man who had just graduated college and was preparing to begin his adult life. He committed suicide. Like with many suicides, his family and friends were left uttering the words “we had no idea”. What...
by rick_patterson | Dec 31, 2020 | Christianity, Compassion, Courage, Empathy, Shame
“I’m tired boss…. Remember that from the Green Mile?” And his look said the rest. Now what? Toward the end of my time in ministry, I can remember standing in the back of the church building as worship was starting. This guy, who I’ve always...
by rick_patterson | Aug 20, 2019 | Courage, Failure, Growth, Narcissism, Shame, Uncategorized
Narcissists hate criticism. Let’s be blunt about that. It’s almost unbearable. But overcoming shame (and narcissism as a result) means dealing with criticism. When a person with shame based narcissistic tendencies such as me does something creative, they...
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 | May 11, 2017 | Achievement, Courage, Success
To be nobody-but-yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody but yourself- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight – and never stop fighting. —e. e. cummings (1955) In the 1990’s – as I was making a...
by rick_patterson | May 10, 2017 | Achievement, Courage, Growth
Mistakes are what make us human and apologies are what help us survive our humanity. — Rick Patterson, Shame Unmasked This quote comes from the first story in the first chapter of my book and emphasizes what I believe is the most important aspect of being human...
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