Nowadays the recession is not only depleting our finances, but is triggering guilty feelings like surviving a job layoff when a colleague or friend has been let go. You might be surprised to learn that it’s not just a crime or a lie that makes most of us feel guilty, rather happiness and fun. Consider the phrase: “I’m so happy that I just can’t stand it!” Or are you afraid of being jinxed if you own your success or do you keep a low profile because of that ubiquitous evil eye? Ever wonder why sex falls by the wayside for many people—it’s the guilt about experiencing pleasure.
Typical Things We Feel Guilty About
- Eating
- Sex
- Shopping
- Switching doctors
- Taking time out for yourself
- Caregiving
- Saying no
However, don’t feel guilty about feeling guilty! You have your work cut out for you shedding the guilt that was passed down to you from generations of parents and educators urging you to conform and be nice. It’s time to get rid of tribal beliefs which no longer resonate for you and make your own decisions. If life gives you lemons, you don’t have to make lemonade. Just throw away the lemons. When you feel guilty, have regular reasonable dialogues with yourself because guilt is illogical.
