SELF-IMPOSED GUILT

The most destructive form of guilt is that which is

self-imposed. This is guilt we impose on ourselves
when we feel that we have broken our own moral code
or the moral code of society. It originates when we
look at our past behavior and see that we have made
an unwise choice or action. We examine what we did
whether it was criticizing others, stealing,
cheating, lying, exaggerating, breaking religious
rules or committing any other act we feel is wrong
in the light of our present value system. In most
cases, the guilt we feel is an attempt to show that
we care and are sorry for our actions. Essentially
what we are doing is whipping ourselves for what we
did and attempting to change history. What we fail to
realize is that the past cannot be changed.
There is a world of difference between feeling guilty
and learning from the past. Going through a selfinflicted
guilt sentence is a neurotic trip you must
stop if you want to develop total self-confidence.
Feeling guilty does not build self-confidence. It
will only keep you a prisoner of the past and
immobilize you in the present. By harboring guilt