Overcoming Guilt When You Were Wrong
Every person on the planet makes mistakes sometimes. Some mistakes are harder to overcome than others, but nothing is unforgivable if you’re willing to ask for it. However, there is no mistake that you cannot find a way to move on from and overcome. If you’ve atoned and aren’t going to keep repeating the same mistake, you can let go of the guilt, let’s look at ways you can overcome guilt even when you were wrong.Accept Your Choices
Once you’ve decided to do something or not do something as the case may be, it’s important to stop dwelling on it. It’s done. The consequences have already become apparent and there is nothing you can do to change what is over and done. You did the best you could do at the time.
Get Perspective
When you compare what you did that, you’re feeling guilty about to other things in the world you will often figure out that the long term effects of your mistake are hardly worth agonizing over. You may discover that your mistakes are being inflated and in the scheme of life, it’s not going to be as important as it is right now. After all, who is going to care in 100 years?
Focus on The Good You Do
You’re so much more than your mistakes. What good have you contributed to the world and the lives you touch every single day? Give yourself some credit for the things in your life that you have done that are good. Don’t only focus on the things you did wrong. The truth is, you’re probably being harder on yourself than anyone.
Listen to Feedback
When you have wronged someone, don’t be defensive. Listen to the feedback they give you without being defensive. One way to make up for doing something guilt worthy is to do something selfless and allow the critique without fighting back.
Apologize Sincerely and Thoroughly
Apologies help to explain how you feel when you’ve goofed as well as smooth things others when you need to make amends. For example, “I’m so sorry I was late for your event. I’d love to take you for coffee to make up for it.” More than likely your friend, in this case, is going to be very accepting and tell you to stop feeling guilty for being human. Practice apologizing in a mirror because your facial expressions and body language tell more than you realize.
Make Amends
When possible, find a way to make amends. For example, if you feel guilty about anything you’ve done, figure out what you can do to help something. You can donate to an organization that combats that issue, replace an important item for your friend, or something that helps make up for whatever it is you’re feeling guilty about.
If you have done something on a larger scale, you can still let go of the guilt by working on becoming a better person by apologizing even if you cannot really make it better, stating why what you did was wrong, and then explaining how you will not do it again and the ways in which you’ll make amends. It’ll make you feel a lot better, and you’ll find that you can let go of the guilt. No matter what happens, one thing cannot define you.
