It’s not shameful to be naked

We all have bodies. We all know what a naked person looks like. The human body is the most natural thing there is, and it is beautiful just as nature made it. And for some reason, society has decided that nudity is a major cause of shame.

It’s not shameful to be poor

One’s financial status is not directly proportional to one’s talents or worth as a person. No one except a bad-mannered five-year-old would mock someone for not having money. It is absurd that the source of one’s insecurities is the fact that one cannot afford the same model of car as one’s neighbor. People who feel the need to show off with expensive material possessions obviously believe they have nothing else to boast about. It’s perfectly valid not to strive for a lot of money (as long as it doesn’t mean a total lack of ambition) or to have talents that aren’t highly valued in the market right now. We all know the story of Van Gogh, for example. It’s also perfectly valid to be at the beginning or in the middle of your journey, with your efforts yet to bear fruit in the form of money.

It’s not shameful to fail

There isn’t a single successful person who hasn’t failed—even more than once. That is why the fear of failure is not a path to success, but quite the opposite—it delays it. There is no such thing as a hero without scars. And one of the most admirable qualities is the ability to get back up and keep moving forward after a setback.

It’s not shameful to have sex

Religions have done a good job of making sex taboo, but it’s time to finally shake that off. All people have come into existence as a result of sex, and obviously, it’s the most natural thing in the world. If we accept it as normal, perhaps sex won’t have to be used on a massive scale for purposes other than connecting on the most intimate level with another wonderful person.

It’s not shameful to have a disability

From wearing glasses to having scars to limping—none of these things is a cause for shame. Human bodies are fragile and sometimes suffer certain injuries. They are neither our choice nor do they say anything essential about our personality. History offers more than a few examples of people who didn’t let their imperfections hold them back and achieved greatness despite them. Learning to accept your body, with all its small and large flaws, is the first essential step in building healthy self-esteem.

It’s not shameful to be alone

Just because you sit alone in a restaurant doesn’t mean you’re completely ostracized by society. The likelihood that you’re the most interesting person you could spend the day with isn’t something to be dismissed. You can go to the movies alone, to a concert, and even on vacation. The only thing this shows is that you’re a self-aware person who feels good about themselves.

It’s not shameful to cry

It is absurd to be ashamed of the best part of yourself—namely, your emotional world. Crying shows that something has touched you on a deep level. A lack of feelings can’t impress anyone, and it’s strange that so many people strive to demonstrate it. Tears are always pure, just like the soul from which they come.