guilt on the guillotine

The verdict… is in.  You’ve been found guilty.  Of a heinous, despicable crime.   The punishment?  Severe.  It’s prison, actually.  3 Days to Life.  The crime?  Feeling guilt.  The jail?  Emotional State Penitentiary.  Population; you and your hopelessly misguided feelings.

Sucks, I know.  Solution?  I have.

It’s a get out of jail free card.  For anyone smart enough to take it.   The best part?  It’s reusable.  Today, and everyday.  For the rest of your life.

Guilt sucks.  Big time.  I’ve talked about it before (see here).  It’s one of  the two most corrosive emotional acids ever.  The other is regret.  They’re capable of dissolving your happiness.  Your mood.  Your soul.  Both are horrible taints on the human experience.  Guilt is especially bad because it comes in two flavors;  internal and external.

External guilt is felt due to some outside force (person, way you were raised, religious beliefs, etc) trying to dictate your morality.   To limit your choices.  To enslave you.  This guilt should be avoided at all costs, and there is much to come on TGOC about it.

Internal guilt on the other hand arises from situations where you “feel just awful..” about messing something up.  A date.  Someone’s party.  Your marriage.

Both kinds of guilt and regret need to be mediated in your life if you ever hope to find happiness.

My technique for overcoming regret is still in the works.

Lucky for you?  My technique for overcoming internal guilt is already here.

Introducing:

CASH’S 3 STEP INTERNAL GUILT ELIMINATION PROGRAM

Repeat after me:

1)  Last night was stupid.

2)  Today isn’t.

3)  Tomorrow doesn’t have to be.

Say it.  Repeat it.  Say it once more.

Then?

Accept it.  Embrace it.  Believe it.

With every fiber of your being.

Once you’ve done that?

Guilt = Gone.

Obviously substitute day / week / year / etc for “Last night” depending on the situation at hand.  The most important part of step 1 is the fact that you’re calling the experience stupid, not yourself.  Detaching yourself from an unfortunate turn of events, scenario, or judgment call is absolutely essential in abolishing guilt from your life.  You’re human.  So am I (as far as you know).  You’re prone to make mistakes.  To lose your cool.  To fuck up.  Don’t hold yourself to a higher standard than you have to.  Accept that bad things happen to good people.  Or you. 

Step 2?  It helps you recognize that today isn’t the same day as yesterday.  It’s not the same day as any day in fact.  This concept is a lifesaver.  Why?  It implies a clean slate.  A fresh start.  A chance to get it right this time, and hopefully, every time to come.

Finally, step 3.  This is a gift that keeps on giving.  The future’s an uncertain place.  It  might be bad, sure.  What else might it be?  Good.  Impossibly good.  Chock full of opportunities to avoid past mistakes.  To make new ones.  To move on.

Dear Guilt, former poisoner of my soul;

Goodbye.

And good riddance.

no longer yours,
cash