Guilt and other negative emotions!

Guilt is a terrible emotion. Though like with other negative emotions it can be a red flag and help identify that changes are necessary.  Other than being a red flag guilt is unpleasant and destructive just like any other negative emotions, or in other words stress. 

Guilt is a result of a negative reaction or bad thoughts you have about a past event.  Key word "past".  Unfortunately we can never change the past, which is why it is so darn important to think, feel, and behave in healthy ways in the present.  duh the present will soon( too soon) become our past. 

This is why psychological wellness is so important.  Let's first not do things that will allow guilt to happen.  OK so if you do make a bad choice and now it is in the past...you cant change it!

Whenever you have identified that you are in a bad place, feeling negative, the first step is to ask yourself what thought is causing this feeling.  By now you know that your thoughts cause your feelings ..right..? if not we need to talk about that or you need to read the article which explains that so you can get it.

Once you can ID the thought causing the negative feeling or in this case guilt, then ask yourself can I change it or not?  Ususally you cannot if in the past. Maybe you can talk or apologize to someone and that might help but basically you cannot change what has happened.  So do what you can but you still need to accept it as the past, learn from it, commit to making changes, hence avoiding the same mistake, and move on to a better healthier place.

It's the people who keep making the same mistakes that might want to consider professional help!

happy healthy day to you!