“Guilt is to the spirit what pain is to the body.” – Elder David A. Bednar
Guilt. I can hardly get through a day without feeling guilty about something. The feeling is like a dark cloud hanging overhead everywhere I go. The cloud doesn’t always release its rain, but it makes it’s presence known in an unpredictable, unforgettable way. Guilt pushes and pokes to get us to notice it and takes our attention away from what is truly important.
So what do we do?
Let’s make our “guilt-list” a little shorter. Shall we?
Here are 5 things to not feel guilty about:
1. Setting healthy boundaries
A few years ago I said “yes” to everything. I would follow through but not always perform my best and sometimes lose myself completely in the process. My husband encouraged me to set boundaries pleading with me to respect myself enough to say “no” when it was best for me and others. Setting boundaries helped me show up fully when I did commit and helped me to take better care of myself.
2. Imperfections
We will never be perfect. I’m sorry if that ruined your personal expectations for yourself, but we must stop striving for perfection, or the guilt will continue. It tells us that we must not only strive for excellence but that we must expect perfection from ourselves in every way. I want to challenge you to give yourself grace and embrace imperfection. Besides, everyone’s idea of “perfection” differs from one another, so you are up against a shifting and unstable scale.
3. Self-care indulgences
Indulgence is a word that is often accompanied by guilt. But indulgence is a luxury and often a form of gratification. We should never feel guilty about acknowledging or celebrating ourselves. This practice fits right along with the act of self-care. It makes us stronger and helps us become the best version of ourselves.
4. Failure
So much learning and growth come from failure. We must shift our perspective to appreciate failure rather than sit in guilt. Sure, we don’t pursue ways to fail, but we can certainly see it’s purpose as we step over failure and are one step closer to success.
5. Being you
I cannot say this enough. Never, ever, ever feel guilty about being YOU! You are the only you there ever has been and ever will be. So be real. All of your crazy emotions, your big dreams, and your awkward quirks – show up as your full self each and every day with no regrets holding you back.
Let’s live with a little less guilt starting NOW!