It’s as reactionary as pulling your hand off a hot stove. Guilt. It happens instantaneously when you think you’ve really blown it. Ever noticed how close the words gut and GUilT are?
It’s ok to be mindful in that moment and feel that pain. In fact it’s healthy psychologically and emotionally to feel remorse. But eventually you have to let the guilt pass through you. You have to forgive yourself.
You’ve already acknowledged what you’ve done and know you never want to feel like that again; though you will because… human. imperfect.
And this is exactly what you want to practice: resisting the urge to stay with that panicky energy.
Pema Chodron says you want to strengthen the ability to drop the panic and shed the back story attached to the feeling. The feeling becomes less intense without the storyline. Unfortunately the nauseating pain in your gut doesn’t go away quite as fast as it arrived but Chodron says, being aware of it gives meaning to your suffering.
Often times there’s a disparity between our intentions and our actions. Guilt isn’t the only emotion we experience when something doesn’t go our way or when we unwittingly make a mess of things. We become impatient, frustrated, and unreasonable. Just like our kids (cue smirk).
If you’ve blown it recently I’m sincerely sorry to hear it. Acknowledge it, breathe-it-in, forgive yourself, and hold that acute awareness closer next time. It’s all you can do.
More to come,
Tanya B.
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