Feeling good about ourselves is a choice. So is feeling guilty. When guilt is legitimate, it acts as a warning light, signaling that we're off course. Then its purpose is finished.
Wallowing in guilt allows others to control us. It makes us feel not good enough. It prevents us from setting boundaries and taking other healthy action to care for ourselves.
We may have learned to habitually feel guilty as an instinctive reaction to life. Now we know that we don't have to feel guilty. Even if we've done something that violates a value, extended guilt does not solve the problem; it prolongs the problem. So make an amend. Change a behavior. Then let guilt go.
Today, God, help me to become entirely ready to let go of guilt. Please take it from me, and replace it with self-love.
From The Language of Letting Go
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Quetzal, First I want to thank you for all the wonderful postings you put on this site each day. I look forward to each morning and reading you various postings.
This one was big with me. During my drinking days my guilt forced me into hopelessness and self pity. During this time, I felt bad about myself and allowed others to walk all over me. Especially my children. I had no personal boundaries because I was feeling bad and just wanted my children to love me and tried to be their friend.
Thankfully I found AA and stuck with it this time, up through and for today. A solid program of AA allowed me to care for myself, regain my dignity, provides acceptance and set reasonable boundaries for my serenity and peace of mind. AA was the biggest gift ever given to me in life. For the I am grateful.
