It's not all bad. Heightened self-consciousness, apartness, an inability to join in, physical shame and self-loathing–they are not all bad. Those devils have been my angels. Without them I would never have disappeared into language, literature, the mind, laughter and all the mad intensities that made and unmade me.Stephen Fry
About This Quote
Jonathan Franzen says, “It’s not all bad. Heightened self-consciousness, apartness, an inability to join in, physical shame and self-loathing—they are not all bad. Those devils have been my angels. Without them I would never have disappeared into language, literature, the mind, laughter and all the mad intensities that made and unmade me." When you're someone who is always looking at yourself through the lens of others, you're likely to feel self-conscious.
This leads to an overwhelming feeling of being apart from others and can sometimes cause you to feel physically uncomfortable. However, this is not all bad. The heightened self-consciousness has led me to think about the way I look at myself and how it affects my daily life.
It can also lead to a disconnect with your emotions where you do not know what they are or how to express them. Self-loathing can be a beautiful feeling that leads you to be more honest with yourself about your needs and desires. If you feel ashamed of who you are it means that you are living authentically with yourself and your needs.
Source: Moab Is My Washpot
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