dealing with guilt

the last thought in yesterday’s entry on the series on guilt was joy trebilcot’s words that in identity guilt – the type of guilt we feel because of who we are, not because of what we’ve done – “we imagine that we are in a rational system where we can be tried … and then work off our debt … but we’re not in that system.”

that’s true. when people feel guilty for who they are, they are locked up in a prison of endless extortion, not in a just system where one pays for one’s wrongdoings and then gets to start life all over again.

my buddhist influence tells me that this is a prison of maya, an illusory prison.

short of becoming a buddhist, there are some questions that can be asked and actions that can be taken to break out of this prison:

this is something that works step-by-step; it’s almost like math: if you skip a step, chances are you’ll come up with an answer that won’t serve you.

QUESTION
have i indeed done harm?
ACTION:
reflect and write your answer.

QUESTION
if yes, who has been harmed? and exactly how?
ACTION:
reflect and write your answer. there may be more than one person, and the harms may be different for each person. it may also be an animal, a plant, an institution, the environment. don’t forget to consider that you might have harmed yourself.

QUESTION
with whom can i discuss this?
ACTION:
find someone trustworthy to discuss this with. the benefits of doing that are endless. there is a reason why confession is such an important part of the catholic church – humans have a strong need to unburden themselves.

QUESTION
what steps have i already taken to make amends?
ACTION:
write a list of these steps, even the small ones. not infrequently, people carry around guilt for things that they have already made amends for.

QUESTION
what further steps can i reasonably take to make further amends?
ACTION:
again, you can write a list. don’t forget the word “reasonably”. you may want to refer to the thoughts on the appropriate “portion” of responsibility i discussed in a previous post.

QUESTION
which of these steps will i take or at least start today?
ACTION:
guilt is only useful to the degree that it motivates us to act. give yourself the gift of moving from guilt to action. if you have determined that you indeed need to make more amends, do something today, even if it’s really small, to make things better.

QUESTION
having taken all these actions, how do i feel?
ACTION
reflect and write. if you have done all you can for today and still feel guilty, allow yourself to recognize that you are experiencing a feeling that is a consequence of something that happened but it is not the harm or trauma itself. the windstorm and the broken window is not the same. the windstorm is over and you have no control over it. but you can pick up the glass and fix the window. look at the brokenness – do you still need it? what are those shards? shame, hurt, disappointment? do you still need them? if so, do something productive with them. if not, throw them out!

if this is something you’d like some help with, give me a buzz.

*****

this is part of a series on guilt:
two types of guilt
identity guilt and opression
guilt, cheney and guantanamo bay
more on guilt and responsibility
understanding guilt: is it useful?
alternative thought records, part II
headaches, families and guilt

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