Guilt, a positive use for a negative emotion
Guilt is one the most painful emotions that humans experience but also one of the most common. Nobody enjoys feeling guilty, but this emotion serves an important purpose: it alerts a person when he or she has done something wrong. This makes it possible for the person to make amends and it can also motivate people to avoid making similar mistakes later.
Nevertheless, guilt can be destructive if not dealt with in the right way. It can cause people to avoid others because they are too embarrassed to apologize for their actions or inaction. Some try to avoid the pain of guilt by turning to other worse habits. Others try to cover up their guilt by blaming others or becoming angry.
What makes it more complicated is that sometimes people feel guilty about things that they can't control. One example of this is survivors' guilt, when people who survived a disaster feel guilty because they escaped death while others didn't. Other people experience false guilt because of too high expectations for themselves.
The proper response to guilt depends on what kind of guilt you're dealing with. For false guilt, it's important to recognize that guilt does not reflect an actual ethical failure. For example, some false guilt focuses on failing to meet expectations you had for yourself. In this case, it's important to remind yourself that you have limits. No one is perfect, and no one can do everything, so admitting your limits is actually a sign of humility.
It's also important to acknowledge what you are feeling. Even when you don't need to feel guilty, these feelings are real and normal. Try to balance them with positive thoughts, but realize that it often takes time for feelings to change.
It's possible that you feel guilty because you actually did something wrong—or didn't do something you should have .If so, don't try to hide it. Apologize and ask for forgiveness, working to heal relationships that were damaged by your actions, which will make your guilty feelings fade.
Guilt is painful, but it can serve a good purpose if you use it well.
Guilt, a positive use for a negative emotion | |
One purpose it serves | To warn people of their mistakes, them to mend their mistakes and motivating them to avoid the same action again. |
Causes of guilt | ● A person did something wrong. ● A person didn't do something he or she should have done. ● Something happened a person's control. ● A person too much of himself or herself. |
Destructive results | If it is not correctly, people may: ● from others because of embarrassment; ● turn to other worse habits to avoid the pain of guilt; ● cover their guilt by the blame or being angry. |
Proper response | ● Recognize guilt is not a reflection of ethical failure. Admit your limits when you to meet your expectation. ● Acknowledge your feelings. Balance them with positive thoughts and be. ● Don't hide your guilt. Apologize and ask for forgiveness and work to up with the people you hurt. |
Conclusion | If made good use of, guilt can be useful though it is painful. |
