Have you ever been caught in a guilt cycle and located yourself spiraling into either shame or brokenness in consequence? Guilt is a really complex emotion that doesn’t just must have a negative impact on our mind and brain. We don’t must spiral into shame or brokenness once we feel guilty. If managed properly, guilt might be used to assist us turn out to be more compassionate, not only towards ourselves but others as well.
As noted in a recent article from the British Psychological Society, there are a lot of reasons to view guilt as a dangerous emotion. It is mostly viewed as a belief that you could have done something improper and, in consequence, caused harm to others and/or yourself. Notably, when someone feels personal guilt in relation to a trauma that they’ve suffered, reminiscent of abuse or lack of a loved one, they’re more prone to develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress if the guilt just isn’t managed.
However, recent research also shows that guilt can have a positive effect on us because it might increase our ability to be compassionate, despite the fact that these two emotions could seem contrary at first glance.
We have to keep in mind that guilt is an incredibly complex emotion. Guilt is a response to an motion; it’s the understanding that “I made a mistake”. This might be useful or negative. It is beneficial if utilized in a way that makes us accountable and propels us to alter or act in a positive way. It is toxic when it keeps us stuck and creates a shame spiral, or once we feel unnecessary guilt due to a life event that we had no control over.
When guilt leads to uncontrollable shame, it makes you’re feeling like “I’m a mistake.” It attacks your price as a human being, often robbing you of the power to alter. It doesn’t motivate you or offer you hope, which is why it’s so vital that we learn to administer our guilt before it takes over our lives.
So, how will we turn our guilt right into a more positive feeling? First, it will be important to grasp the link between compassion and guilt. Compassion is the emotional response to the suffering or distress of others. It involves a deep sense of empathy and a desire to alleviate or help ease that suffering. Guilt often arises when individuals recognize that they might have contributed to another person’s suffering or not done enough to stop it. What this implies is that each guilt and compassion are rooted in empathy. Guilt often emerges from recognizing the emotions and experiences of others, while compassion is a proactive response to those emotions, in search of to scale back the pain or suffering that has been identified.
If managed accurately, our feelings of guilt can function a motivator for more compassionate actions. When we feel guilty about our role in another person’s suffering, we could also be driven to take steps to make amends, offer support, or prevent similar situations in the longer term. This motivation, in turn, can result in acts of compassion, connection, and love—towards ourselves and others.
We can actually use compassion as a method to resolve intense feelings of guilt. When we take compassionate actions to assist others, we are able to experience a way of relief and healing as we work to rectify the situations that caused us to feel guilty. This might be an incredible learning experience, helping us grow emotionally and mentally.
This is why it will be important to recognize the connection between guilt and compassion. It can assist us higher understand and navigate our feelings and motivations, ultimately resulting in more constructive responses to situations involving suffering and the need to make amends.
For more on managing guilt, take heed to my podcast (episode #580). If you enjoy listening to my podcast, please consider leaving a 5-star review and subscribing. And keep sharing episodes with family and friends and on social media. (Don’t forget to tag me so I can see your posts!).
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