Guilty Conscience? Feel Good by Doing Good

“These testimonies of a good conscience are pleasant, and such a natural pleasure is very beneficial to us; it is the only payment that can never fail.” – Montaigne If you’re experiencing a guilty conscience, you may think there’s no way out of it. We all know how self-destructive guilt feels. On the other hand, what does it mean to have a good conscience? Is this something that anyone can experience or is it only for people that some consider saints? Indeed, most of us have encountered someone that always seems above reproach, seemingly faultless. We may feel our own shortcomings in comparison and harbor a guilty conscience or, at the very least, some amount of anxiety. The truth is that many people have misconceptions about a good conscience and likely shortchange themselves in the process. For example, if you’ve done wrong, does that mean you’re automatically excluded from the ability to do good, to feel like your conscience is clear? No, it does not, although many people probably think it does. Acknowledgement of the wrongdoing is key. You must begin by admitting the wrongdoing if you have any hope of moving past this huge hurdle. If you allow the sting of that bad deed (words included) to remain, it will only fester. Not only will you continue to think of yourself as a bad person, you’ll also be stymied in making substantive progress toward any healthy goals. Indeed, you may just decide that since you already did something that hurt others (or yourself), ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Relationships Self-Help Amends Betrayal Conscience Forgiveness Guilt guilty conscience Optimism Positivity Repentance trust Source Type: blogs