Guilt over Stress

We often hear about stress as a negative thing. All too often it is. Too much stress has the tendency to affect our mental, emotional and physical well-being. However, there is also a positive side to stress. The right amount of stress can motivate us, inspire us, push us to accomplish many things. Stress can bring out the productive, creative sides of us. Think of how we are sometimes stretched into growth and change by stress. I, for one, sometimes need deadlines or a good dose of stress to get things done. But sometimes, I feel a little guilty doing things that way.

Guilt, like stress, can have both a positive and negative impact on our lives. Typically, and more frequently, we associate guilt with the negative. There’s guilt by association. A guilty conscious. Guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Not guilty. Guilty as sin. Even Webster’s views guilt in negative terms:

Guilt, n. 1) a state of wrongdoing; wickedness; 2) deserving of punishment.

People often determine good and bad by the presence or absence of feelings of guilt. Each individual responds to guilt in their own way. Do they show remorse? Do they ask forgiveness? Are they sincere? Frequently, we hear of individuals who cannot live with their guilt. Some people, however, simply, do not feel guilt the same way that others do. There are always those in the news, literature, in the media, etc., who display little guilt or remorse for their actions. There are also those who use guilt to manipulate others. They may try to put us on a “guilt-trip.” They try to control our emotions in order to get their way. Some of us suffer from the manipulations of others. And some of us suffer from our own self-inflicted guilt. Sometimes this guilt can be so overwhelming and have such a negative influence on us that it impacts our day-to-day functioning and interactions with others.

Guilt, like stress, can also have positive results. Guilt can often act as our conscience and our guide. It can influence us to “Do the right thing.” It can make us realize we have behaved badly. It can make us feel remorse or sadness when we have acted in ways that hurt others. It may remind us to be good to family and friends, neighbors, strangers and the less fortunate. It can spur us to offer an apology or to make amends for our actions. It may act as a deterrent from acting one way while encouraging us to act another. It can create or foster feelings of sympathy and empathy. Guilt can actually make us better, more sensitive individuals. I don’t have to feel guilty of anything because i did not do anything that could lead to shameless actions.

Anyhow, as long as you admit it, you are an admirable person. But if you keep denying it, you should check what’s missing in the picture.