I have come to the conclusion that guilt needs a expiration date. A very quick one. Guilt needs to have an expires by date as if it was fresh and perishable food. Lets give guilt 3 days from when you open the package.
Guilt does serve a purpose. It helps you recognize when you have done something wrong or caused harm to another. Guilt lets you know that you may need to make reparations to the harmed party. However, most the time guilt is a self loathing type of thing. This is the distracting and annoying type of guilt that can really harm your forward in progress in life.
Now let me just hit the pause button for a moment. Repeated horrendous behavior that is completely destructive is something you can and should feel guilt for. The people that wash or burn away all guilty feelings for doing harmful things have a serious problem. I am NOT talking about this guilt. I am aasumong that most people that are really trying to improve themselves can underatand the difference between guilt that comes from destructive behavior and guilt that comes from unecessary shame.
So guilt that you feel for not quite getting something right, or slipping on a ladder rung slightly on the upward climb to success needs to be short term. Very short term. Like expire in 3 days or less short term.
Guy Reams
