Moving on from Guilt

Almost everyone in their life at some point experiences the emotion of guilt. There is not one general explanation of guilt due to the nature of what guilt is. It depends on what the person is dealing with. One thing that can be generalized is -that if one does not rid themselves of the guilt he or she feels, the person will drown in it and allow it to ruin all happiness. There are several techniques that a person can apply to rid the emotion of guilt.

Acceptance

Most people know that the first way to conquer a bad emotion is to accept it. If you can accept the action or situation that has caused the guilty emotion, you are one step closer to being able to atone for the guilt.

Being big enough to accept that you have done something wrong allows you the confidence needed to approach the second step.

Atonement

You should ask yourself if there is anything you can do to make the circumstances better. If there is, then you need to do whatever it takes to atone for your actions that have caused you guilt. If there is not, then you need to forgive yourself and move forward learning from your mistake.

Modification

If you continually feel guilty about the same thing, for example, eating the wrong things, not going to the gym, lying, slacking at work, modify your actions. You are in control of your own emotions. If something that you continue to do is causing you guilt, it is time to look within and change your behavior. It takes 28 days to create a good habit. Commit to yourself to form good behavior and change your actions for 28 days in order to alleviate a lifetime of guilt.

Affirmation

Many times, others feel guilty because they have allowed someone to make them feel that way. Be sure to keep people around you that do not place blame on you for everything that goes wrong. Surrounding yourself with positive, uplifting people will allow you to love yourself. Practice writing down affirming qualities of yourself and or do affirming actions for others in order to overcome the guilt someone else has placed on you.