The Healing Balm: Choosing Self-Compassion Over Shame delicate but still holding together, symbolizing vulnerability. Once we begin to uncover our shadows—the hidden fears, old wounds, unhealed memories—it’s easy to slip into shame. Why did I do that? Why am I like this? I should’ve known better. But shame keeps the wound open. To truly heal, we must meet ourselves with what we always needed and rarely received: compassion . representing the turbulence and then clarity. Self-