Do you feel GUILT?
Guilt. Rarely does one small word have such a deep impact on our psyche.
Different people feel guilty for different things based on their
values. Some feel guilt over not always being there for their children, partner or parents,
saying “no” at work or when taking time out for themselves. There is guilt over
past affairs, breaking someone’s heart or handling a situation unfairly. Having
an abortion/ miscarriage or having to go back to work leaving your new born at
home also leave many of us feeling guilty.
The reasons are varied for which we all carry our own crosses. God will never forgive me, some say. The Universe hates me, others believe. And life goes on until this guilt becomes a tainted part of our existence.
So what is guilt?The reasons are varied for which we all carry our own crosses. God will never forgive me, some say. The Universe hates me, others believe. And life goes on until this guilt becomes a tainted part of our existence.
Guilt unfortunately is frequently viewed as a virtue, as a high sense of responsibility and morality. To feel guilty is seen as a sign of good character. The truth, however, is that guilt is the greatest destroyer of emotional energy. It leaves you feeling hopeless in the present and regretful in future by something that has already occurred in the past.
Regretful. That’s another important word in this context.
What do you mean by regret?
Regret is a
negative mental/emotional state that involves blaming ourselves for a bad
outcome, feeling a sense of loss or sorrow at what might have been or wishing
we could undo a previous choice that we made. A life that stems out of guilt
and regret, often has not much to look forward to. It’s so empty.
Does that mean one should live a guilt free, regretless life
without any conscience? No. Understand this. Human beings need to have a
conscience. According to the dictionary a conscience is “the sense of right or
wrong within the individual.” Without a conscience we would have no qualm about
hurting one another, interpersonal relationships of any kind would be extinct
and the world would be less safe.
In fact, excessive guilt is one of the biggest destroyers of
self-worth, self-confidence and the ability to imagine positive outcomes for
yourself. Beating yourself up repeatedly about a previous wrongdoing only serves
as a punishment; a kind of self-decaying life sentence which you have decided
to give to yourself.
Reflecting on past behavior and learning from it is enlightening.
When your conscience tells you that you have done something wrong, it is
important to face it, make amends and learn from your mistake. Staying consumed
with guilt, however, will keep you from moving forward in a positive and
productive way. With determination to resolve and absolve however, many have learned how to avoid taking off on a demeaning guilt
trip.
Stay out of this bottomless pit by implementing the
following steps:
·
Review the
action or event over which you feel guilt.
·
Was the action appropriate or acceptable under the circumstances?
·
If so, decide
to let go of the situation and
refuse to think about it further. Go for a walk, call a friend or become
absorbed in something enjoyable. Do anything but rethink the situation.
·
If your action was inappropriate, is there something you can do to correct it
or to make amends? Now take this step
and realize you have done all you can to rectify the situation.
If your action was inappropriate and there
is nothing you can do to make amends now, then repent. There is a big
difference between regret and repent. Repentance; if properly understood is a change of mind--a change
of intention from doing that which made you feel ‘guilty’ to not wanting to do it
again--that results in a change of action. It involves the decision to make a
change of behavior and/or attitude about something. Repentance encourages a
heartfelt desire to change.
·
What have you learned from this experience that will be helpful in the future?
Remember that the past cannot be changed, no matter how you
feel about it. Victimizing yourself with excessive guilt will neither alter the
past nor make you a better person. By applying the above steps though, you will
begin to heal and be a better person as a result.
In the end, know that; God is great. So merciful. The
Universe; a pure reflection of your spirit. The question then is not if God and
the Universe have forgiven you. The question is; Have you?