From Oscar Wilde, and shared with me by a beautiful human being that I know:

“I won’t tell you that the world matters nothing, or the world’s voice, or the voice of society. They matter a good deal. They matter far too much. But there are moments when one has to choose between living one’s own life, fully, entirely, completely—or dragging out some false, shallow, degrading existence that the world in its hypocrisy demands. You have that moment now. Choose!”

Wilde’s writings are a rich source of inspiration for how to shed shame and embarrassment, and to instead just live. I love the way he demands unhindered self-expression, and holds society to a higher standard of supporting it. He is a great cheerleader for the work of therapy.