Do you believe you need to drop guilt? Do you feel guilty often, and do you think those feelings of guilt might be holding you back? Let’s talk about guilt. Guilt is defined as feelings of deserving blame, especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy: self-reproach. Guilt may also be a feeling of deserving blame for offenses. We can feel guilty for various reasons, including sleeping too much, not providing, not being successful enough, feeling inadequate, or not earning enough money. Stay tuned for a conversation about guilt.
Listen & Subscribe on:
iTunes /
Stitcher /
Podbean /
Overcast /
Spotify
Contact Info
Suggestions about how to deal with guilt are discussed in this episode. Do you feel your life would be better if you could drop guilt?
Do you find yourself feeling guilty much of the time? Could those feelings of guilt be holding you back? Let’s talk about guilt.
1/ A Genuine Mistake
- When you've made a mistake, you may feel guilty.In this case, you have to think about what it means to be human. Do you expect yourself to be superhuman?
- Do you believe when you make a mistake, it is not excusable? Thinking about it this way, you will realize that making mistakes is part of being human.
- Consider how you can move forward and not make the same mistake again. Think briefly about what led to the mistake, but don’t overthink it.
- When you have worked through the thought process, move on to the point where you can consciously decide to let go of the guilt and not entertain feelings of guilt about this issue anymore.
2/ When You've Done Nothing Wrong
- If you determine that your guilt is unjustified, make a conscious, active effort to let go of it.
- Avoid taking on other people’s guilt for them. It enables them to repeat their mistakes and causes you to suffer unnecessarily.
- Conflict resolution skills can help you if you’re having trouble letting go. Keep listening to this episode, but remember to seek a knowledgeable conflict resolution coach. This can help you avoid internalizing guilt that isn’t yours.
- When you meet with conflict, be more assertive and stand up for yourself. Don’t apologize when you don’t need to to end the conflict. Like I said earlier, make a conscious effort to let go of your guilt. Remember that letting go of the guilt is the way to move forward. In this episode, I will talk about the Sedona Method as a way to let go of the guilt if you’re having trouble.
- Back in 2019, I interviewed Aaron Hunnel. The episode was about using mindfulness to let go of guilt and shame. You can listen by going to www.MindfulnessMode.com/191
3/ Guilt For Others
- Some people feel guilty over the actions of others.
- If you’ve figured out that your guilt is not justified, you can go ahead and do what you need to do to let go of that guilt.
- Some people take on other people’s guilt. Doing this will keep you from feeling calm and relaxed because you have little or no control over other people's actions. Make up your mind to stop feeling guilty for others.
- You're in the right place if you’re wondering exactly how to do that. You’ve identified this issue, so now you're much closer to letting it go.
- Hold a pencil in your hand out in front of you. Look at the pencil. Decide to let it go. Decide to drop it. Then, drop it. Did the pencil fall, or are you still holding on to it? We can decide in an instant to drop the pencil. That is the same with guilt. You can decide to let go of it or to continue to grip onto it. That is the basis of the Sedona Method.
Summary
- Today, I’ve touched on some aspects of guilt and how it can hold you back without realizing what’s happening. You can learn a lot more about how guilt holds you back. The best way to do this is to study your own thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. As I mentioned, journaling is one way to do this. Meditation is another way.
- I strongly recommend meditation if you don’t already have a meditation practice. Get started by making a commitment and spending just two minutes a day. I’ve devoted entire episodes to meditation so I won’t go into more detail here, but I can tell you this simple practice has helped many people. I’ve interviewed a lot who will tell you this very fact. I hope this insight into guilt has been meaningful for you
Suggested Resources
Related Episodes
Special Offer
Experiencing anxiety and stress? I'm Bruce Langford, a coach and hypnotist. Let me help you overcome your inner critic and regain confidence. Book a Free Coaching Session now to start your journey toward a more fulfilling life. Email bruce@mindfulnessmode.com with ‘Coaching Session' in the subject line. Let's schedule a call to discuss your path to a better life.