Everything has a positive and negative aspect to it. It could be said that the main positive aspect of guilt is that it reminds us of something that we wish we had not done and therefore it deters us from wanting to do it again. There are many more negative aspects to guilt and they far outweigh the positives.
The physical, psychological and emotional effects of guilt can be devastating. People are more likely to be aware of the psychological and emotional side effects of guilt than they are of the physical ones. It can activate negative thoughts and emotions that trigger such negatives as embarrassment, feelings of humiliation, self doubt and lack of confidence. It also triggers even deeper problems associated with shame, persecution and self hatred.
Whenever we encounter a situation or experience that triggers a memory of a past event that we feel guilty about, we have an automatic or uncontrollable response that activates the same guilt associated to the original experience. It is hard to ignore our psychological and emotional responses to this memory because these associated thoughts, feelings and emotions are instantly, and often, acutely obvious. However; many people are not aware of the longer term damage that is subtly being done on the physical level. Guilt can be a major cause of physical disharmony and eventual breakdown at cellular level. The problem is that these effects are slow to manifest and they often take many years to show up. Thus, when the symptoms do appear, it is very difficult to see the relationship between the ‘cause and effect’.
The traditional healers are one example of those who understand this cause and effect of carrying or holding on to old negative beliefs and fears. Psychosomatics ( a pain in the mind causes a pain in the body) is a term that has been given to this phenomenon. Chinese healers and acupuncturists understand this principle along with how the energy travels through the body and is connected to certain meridians (energy pathways) and their associated organs and mascles. Louse L hay is only one example of the many modern day people who have a good understanding of this mind /body relationship.
How do we manage or release any guilt that we carry? Some advice suggests that we only need to forgive ourselves and move on past it. Another; accept it and forget it. Others say; just forget it or just move on. These options make it sound pretty simple and maybe that is so for guilt that is relatively easy to face. However; that won’t cater for the guilt that triggers the deeper painful feelings and emotions that contribute to physical disharmony and sometimes, disease.
Many people find it easier to forgive others than themselves. They may have set the other person free but what have they done to themselves? Nothing – they are still in prison. They have got it back the front! We need to forgive ourselves first! Self-forgiveness has the ability
set us free from our guilt. It is so much easier to forgive another once we have cleared our own guilt. Lack of self forgiveness can be a form of self condemnation.
Any current guilt that we experience will normally be associated or related to an original cause or experience. These origins can even go back to our early childhood and are often buried in our subconscious. If we don’t get to and heal the original cause then we will not achieve the ultimate release from that guilt. How do we do that? Unfortunately this is not a quick fix or easy process. It is normally more of a journey of discovery with the aim of uncovering each layer, one at a time. This means working down from the surface (current) issue and uncovering the layers we have built over the years until we get to the root (original) cause or experience. This requires honest self observation without any self judging. Self love and acceptance of our truth has to be the driving factor.
You need to see that you are not bad person just because you did something that you feel guilty about. This next understanding may help! ‘Everybody is living and expressing themselves from their level of consciousness or truth’ and there are no exceptions to that rule. We often hear people say; “if only I had known better!”. Another way of saying this would be; “if I was more aware or conscious then I would not have done that!” We act and react according to our level of consciousness. The healing process needs us to fully own that we and not the other person / persons created our guilt. If we are inclined to blame the other or justify our actions then we have missed the point. It is not so much about understanding the causes – ‘the hows and whys’. It is about self forgiveness. I.e. “I acted or reacted the way I did because that reflected my level of consciousness at that point in time. From now on I will act or react from a higher level of consciousness”.
This article is meant to bring an understanding of the problems caused by guilt into people’s awareness. However; the different healing processes are varied and too diverse to cover here. I intended to provoke thought and trigger your curiosity that will lead you to search deeper into your personal story.
You may also enjoy: How the understanding of the mind helps us create better health, wealth and relationships
The physical, psychological and emotional effects of guilt can be devastating. People are more likely to be aware of the psychological and emotional side effects of guilt than they are of the physical ones. It can activate negative thoughts and emotions that trigger such negatives as embarrassment, feelings of humiliation, self doubt and lack of confidence. It also triggers even deeper problems associated with shame, persecution and self hatred.
Whenever we encounter a situation or experience that triggers a memory of a past event that we feel guilty about, we have an automatic or uncontrollable response that activates the same guilt associated to the original experience. It is hard to ignore our psychological and emotional responses to this memory because these associated thoughts, feelings and emotions are instantly, and often, acutely obvious. However; many people are not aware of the longer term damage that is subtly being done on the physical level. Guilt can be a major cause of physical disharmony and eventual breakdown at cellular level. The problem is that these effects are slow to manifest and they often take many years to show up. Thus, when the symptoms do appear, it is very difficult to see the relationship between the ‘cause and effect’.
The traditional healers are one example of those who understand this cause and effect of carrying or holding on to old negative beliefs and fears. Psychosomatics ( a pain in the mind causes a pain in the body) is a term that has been given to this phenomenon. Chinese healers and acupuncturists understand this principle along with how the energy travels through the body and is connected to certain meridians (energy pathways) and their associated organs and mascles. Louse L hay is only one example of the many modern day people who have a good understanding of this mind /body relationship.
How do we manage or release any guilt that we carry? Some advice suggests that we only need to forgive ourselves and move on past it. Another; accept it and forget it. Others say; just forget it or just move on. These options make it sound pretty simple and maybe that is so for guilt that is relatively easy to face. However; that won’t cater for the guilt that triggers the deeper painful feelings and emotions that contribute to physical disharmony and sometimes, disease.
Many people find it easier to forgive others than themselves. They may have set the other person free but what have they done to themselves? Nothing – they are still in prison. They have got it back the front! We need to forgive ourselves first! Self-forgiveness has the ability
set us free from our guilt. It is so much easier to forgive another once we have cleared our own guilt. Lack of self forgiveness can be a form of self condemnation.
Any current guilt that we experience will normally be associated or related to an original cause or experience. These origins can even go back to our early childhood and are often buried in our subconscious. If we don’t get to and heal the original cause then we will not achieve the ultimate release from that guilt. How do we do that? Unfortunately this is not a quick fix or easy process. It is normally more of a journey of discovery with the aim of uncovering each layer, one at a time. This means working down from the surface (current) issue and uncovering the layers we have built over the years until we get to the root (original) cause or experience. This requires honest self observation without any self judging. Self love and acceptance of our truth has to be the driving factor.
You need to see that you are not bad person just because you did something that you feel guilty about. This next understanding may help! ‘Everybody is living and expressing themselves from their level of consciousness or truth’ and there are no exceptions to that rule. We often hear people say; “if only I had known better!”. Another way of saying this would be; “if I was more aware or conscious then I would not have done that!” We act and react according to our level of consciousness. The healing process needs us to fully own that we and not the other person / persons created our guilt. If we are inclined to blame the other or justify our actions then we have missed the point. It is not so much about understanding the causes – ‘the hows and whys’. It is about self forgiveness. I.e. “I acted or reacted the way I did because that reflected my level of consciousness at that point in time. From now on I will act or react from a higher level of consciousness”.
This article is meant to bring an understanding of the problems caused by guilt into people’s awareness. However; the different healing processes are varied and too diverse to cover here. I intended to provoke thought and trigger your curiosity that will lead you to search deeper into your personal story.
Your truth will set you free!
You may also enjoy: How the understanding of the mind helps us create better health, wealth and relationships
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About David
David Lane’s journey into higher consciousness includes many understandings drawn from a diverse range of information. He believes that we are all individuals who have come to tread our own unique path. David’s book is titled ‘Personal Power’. It is about how we evolve our consciousness and how to monitor our journey and is available online.