Wow. It's really good to see that other people are having these same conversations, and the same difficulties with changing how they see themselves. I have almost those exact words written in my journal. If I can believe that my view of the past was wrong and that I didn't deserve to be treated that way, then I guess I wouldn't feel like I had to hide from everyone. But if I didn't hide, wasn't shy, who would I be, because that's who I am?

The ideas here are good, about thinking about how your friends and coworkers might describe you. I find I can accept that they may not see me as I do, but I still feel that it's because they don't know the me I hide inside. It's definitely hard work to shift your beliefs about your past and how you see your place in it.

I guess it changes little bit by little bit. Kind of like eroding the soil around a rock. At first you couldn't move the rock at all, but with enough gentle pressure from the water moving the soil from around it, and it will roll away on its own. Hope that's somewhat of how it will work in the end.

Thanks for the chance to share, TC, Quay