When someone struggles with guilt in a needless way…it can be devastating. I had a brief conversation with someone who was struggling with it…as she said, her guilt, other people’s guilt; and, she said she needed to let it go; because she worried too much about what other people thought.
You see, guilt is simply a tool. One that our subconscious mind uses to help us make good choices in our lives; it is like an early warning detection system. Guilt tells us we are making a wrong choice. But like anything, guilt can be misplaced. Instead of building us up and helping us to build a strong positive character; sometimes guilt runs amok, and instead creates self-doubt, tearing down our self-esteem and helps to destroy the foundation , of who we are as a person.
This must be dealt with or a person who struggles with needless guilt, or a disporportionate amount of guilt to any given situation, begins to devalue their own opinions and strengths and begins to give more weight and credibility to those around them.
I told her she needed to value herself as much as she valued the opinions of others. It was a simple statement. She simply needed to worry as much about what she thought of herself as she did about what others thought of her. You see, when you look in the mirror (or examine your own heart and mind) you have to like who you see; you have to respect yourself. Later, she said she was better. I was glad…because she is a person who comes across as a very caring person…a person who does alot for others…and who reaches out.
Why is it that we are so quick to judge ourselves harshly and so quick to give the benefit of doubt to others? Each of us does this to some degree. We have negative thought patterns that we fall victim to…that little negative voice inside our heads; our own personal form of self-doubt. We must learn to appreciate ourselves in ways that matter. After all, if we dont value ourselves enough…no one else will either!
Write where you are 