Overcoming Shame: Let Go of Others’ Expectations and Embrace God’s Acceptance
Are You Ready to Be Free of Your Shame?
Shame is debilitating. It ruins relationships, thwarts growth, and destroys hope. It can masquerade as various problems—guilt, envy, pride, resentment—but until you heal the core issue, freedom will remain out of reach.
Dr. Mark W. Baker wants to open your eyes to the real battle you're facing and teach you the skills to effectively fight back. He will help you see...
- how guilt is often helpful, but shame is always harmful
- what you can do to restore relationships that have been damaged
- why you need and deserve a renewed understanding of your worth
Combining psychological research, sound biblical teachings, and clinical experience, Dr. Baker provides a valuable resource to address the pain no one talks about—and explore the only remedy that can bring real healing.
Top Highlights
“Once shame gets its claws in us, silence only makes it worse. Shame disconnects us from others and causes us to doubt our worth, as if we don’t have anything of value to offer others. This lie is perpetuated by silence, and it can be exposed as false only through having the courage to speak honestly about how we feel to others who will listen. Our fear is that our worthlessness will only be confirmed if we open up to others, but the irony is that only by opening up to others can the toxic power of shame be dispelled.” (source)
“Neurotic guilt is better than being a psychopath, but it’s not really about making things right with others because its real motivation is to cover over painful feelings of shame that you don’t want anyone to see. In other words, neurotic guilt is about saving your own skin.” (source)
“Shame is the painful feeling of disconnection from others that comes from feeling defective.” (source)
“figure out how to have a healthy dependence on God and others to find joy.” (source)
“Having emotional needs doesn’t make you needy, it makes you human.” (source)
"Dr. Mark Baker marries faith and modern psychology into a book
certain to open both the mind and soul. His brilliant insights are
grounded in science and undeniably imbued with God's
inspiration."
—Doug Richardson, Screenwriter and novelist; movies include
Die Hard 2, Bad Boys, and Welcome to
Mooseport
"Overcoming Shame is a great read written by
an experienced psychotherapist. Dr. Baker draws on many concepts
from Scripture and positive psychology—humility, mercy,
forgiveness, compassion, and love, to name a few. This book will
lift your head, lift your spirits, and lift your eyes toward
Jesus."
—Everett L. Worthington, Jr, PhD, Professor of psychology,
Virginia Commonwealth University, Author of 30+ books on
forgiveness and related areas including Heroic Humility
(with Scott Allison)
"If left unchecked, shame becomes a malignant cancer that
extends itself from personal pain to potential violence to self and
others. Dr. Baker not only rigorously addresses the destructive
power of shame, but he also provides the only guaranteed
step-by-step process for being eternally healed from this
progressive source of internal and external life-threatening hurt
and pain. The timing is right for Dr. Baker's exceptionally
well-written book Overcoming Shame. This book is
a must-read, a solution for a time such as this."
—Mack Harnden, PhD, Clinical psychologist, founder and president
of the Forgiveness Institute
"Though shame is seldom discussed in churches, it's an emotion
that all Christians deal with—most often poorly. We tend to deny or
ignore it, which doesn't work and in turn causes more humiliation
and pushes us further on the downward spiral of shame. Thankfully,
Christian psychologist Mark Baker explains a better way. Rich in
detail and depth, Overcoming Shame will also help
people deal with guilt, resentment, envy, jealousy, and even
narcissism. I know of no one who couldn't benefit from this
insightful book, and I especially recommend it to pastors and other
church leaders in order to help people defeat a problem that has
destroyed individuals, families, and communities since, well, we
emerged from Eden."
—Rick Stedman, Pastor and author of 31 Surprising Reasons to
Believe in God
Product Details
- Title : Overcoming Shame: Let Go of Others’ Expectations and Embrace God’s Acceptance
- Author: Baker, Mark W.
- Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
- Publication Date: 2018
- ISBN: 9780736971317
Dr. Mark W. Baker is licensed as a clinical psychologist
and marriage and family therapist and is the executive director of
La Vie Counseling Centers in Southern California. He is a
bestselling author and his books include Jesus, The Greatest
Therapist Who Ever Lived and Spiritual Wisdom for a Happier
Life.
www.DrMarkBaker.com