Really? Guilt is an interesting emotion.
All of us experience it at some point and many of us live with it regularly. Growing up with a caretaker who is critical of you and those around you has the effect of teaching you how to feel guilty about being a disappointment or feeling less than. As we are domesticated to believe that it is normal to feel guilty we actually create situations in our lives to manifest those guilty feelings. No one can make you feel anything you don’t already feel on some level. If, for the first 7 years, your well meaning caregivers were teaching you to feel guilty about your actions, every time that guilt showed up, you fired off a cocktail of hormones in your body that brings the actual feeling to the surface.
Over time and repetition your body becomes addicted to that chemical cocktail. Subconsciously you are looking for ways and reasons to feel guilty and many of us find partners or work supervisors that push those guilt buttons for us. Remember, though, the guilt buttons are already there. If you have no guilt no one can push your buttons. If you are filled with peace and joy no one can ruin your day. The attitude becomes….”oh well” or “I don’t care”.
Practice is always the key to manifesting. Assume, for now, that you have guilty feelings within yourself and have had them for a long time. Perhaps you once did something to someone that you regret. Every time the memory of that event is replayed in your mind the guilt shows up. I get it, when you did harm to the other person you wished you could have taken it back. You felt guilty in the moment. The problem is that those feelings get stuck in the Amygdala and every time the memory comes up so do the guilty feelings. How many years do you beat yourself up for what you did? Are you really a bad person or did you make a regrettable mistake? The first time the incident occurred you may have had reason to feel guilty. Every time your memory brings it back up there is no good reason to fire off those chemicals that spike your guilt. The incident happened, it is over and you have a responsibility to love your self enough to forgive yourself.
Decide to practice noticing the guilty feelings. Ask yourself who’s feelings they are…….the answer is always…….”your feelings”. Decide to focus on how you want to feel……..”good”, I assume…… and find a happy memory to practice feeling instead. Over time you will re frame guilt into an opportunity to heal yourself and expand. Guilt is an unnecessary and destructive emotion. It keeps us small and causes us to feel defensive. If you have manifested a guilt monger in your life it will be necessary to lovingly correct him/her when they lay the guilt trip on you.
Remember, they have habits too and you are the one who is changing. “Is that a loving thought?” “I love you AND it’s not ok to criticize me any more or in that way” and when a judgmental statement is made: “Can you know for a fact that’s true?” These words begin the practice of learning how to forgive yourself and let go of guilt. No one can make you feel guilty you have guilt within you and you allow your buttons to be pushed. You can decide to love yourself enough not to care about the guilt any more.
Practice Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and tap on the feelings when they arise. Repetition is key. Start to understand that guilt is an unnecessary emotion that keeps you from enjoying the present moment. You can forgive yourself and start anew. We should all learn to practice and embrace the power of **EFT**, or **Emotional Freedom Techniques**, to help us overcome our internal guilt and heal from the inside out. **EFT** taps into our body’s subtle energy system to restore balance and harmony, helping us to break free from old patterns and negative emotions like guilt.
By using **EFT** to address the underlying issues, we can process and release our feelings of guilt and ultimately be liberated from them. Additionally, **EFT** can be used to help us build self-forgiveness and self-love. By tapping on the meridian points with mindful and conscious focus, we can tap into our own healing power and find freedom from guilt.