Manage your guilt
Have you ever wondered why you feel guilty? Have you asked yourself what’s the point and why it bothers you so much? It turns out that guilt is born from a transgression to your norms or personal ethics. In childhood you learn to internalize standards and principles that become your way of living, therefore, when something violates those ideas, an emotional response develops that makes you feel uncomfortable. Have you noticed that when you feel guilt you also feel shame and anxiety?
Guilt can motivate you to reflect on your actions as well as correct your behavior, it is not all bad. However, the internalization of guilt, when it is disproportionate, often causes the need to punish yourself, which can increase negative emotions, hinder your growth, and lower your self-esteem.
To manage feelings of guilt it is important to start with reflection, this will lead you to understand what happened and identify what needs to happen so that you feel better. It usually requires recognition and acceptance of your responsibility for what happened, very often it also requires taking actions to rectify the situation. It is important not to deny or minimize your actions or their consequences since it is common for guilt to also arise from empathy towards others. By recognizing that you have affected someone you will find that you have an opportunity to grow. Most of the time, in these cases, relationship repair is needed, which includes focusing on correcting what can be rectified, accepting what cannot be corrected, and challenging irrational blame.
If, by channeling your actions towards reparation, self-forgiveness and self-understanding, you cannot effectively manage feelings of guilt, allow yourself to seek and receive help. Talking to a therapist can help you find balance in this experience.