Sometimes It’s Good to Be Embarrassed

Key points

Embarrassment can lead to shame and self-loathing, uncertainty and distress.

And yet, so too can it inspire humility and honest self-reflection.

There are even times when embarrassment can lead to moral growth and personal fulfillment.

Nobody likes to feel embarrassed. Indeed, our most painful and vivid memories are often of experiences in which we were humiliated by or in front of others. Embarrassment can lead to shame and self-loathing . It can diminish our confidence , shake us from our sense of certainty, and cause the kind of repression that expresses itself in all types of neuroses. When we feel embarrassed, we want to avoid others and conceal that of which we are ashamed. More than this, we want to escape our embarrassment and ensure that whatever gave rise