Guilty as Charged

One issue that I constantly struggle with is Guilt. When I am really really in my work zone I feel guilty for not spending enough time with my family. But when I’m at home, I feel like I’m abandoning my life’s purpose. Guilt was not something I dealt with when I was younger, it appears to be a symptom that has developed as I have gotten older.

I by nature am a planner. When I have a problem, I “plan” my way out. Even when I do my best to look at my schedule, and plot out specific times for certain areas in my life, it NEVER feels like enough. I ALWAYS feel inadequate. This feeling can leave us living a life where we are constantly chasing our tails, never to seek fulfilment.

As I was thinking about this the other day, an epiphany of sorts hit me. As I have gotten older one thing I am pretty consistent on is the realization, if the problem in your life isn’t changing, then it’s time for YOU to change. It is with that approach that I began to look at my GUILT.

What is guilt? Guilt is the recognition of someone else’s need, and the wanting to support that need. In life it’s free to be selfish. No sacrifice, your only focus is YOU. However to be self-less is going to cost you something. I had to realize, Guilt is a symptom of my maturity. Guilt is a quiet stepping stone into my adulthood. In looking at it in that way, guilt shouldn’t make you hold your head down, it actually should have the opposite effect.

I had to realize, that I am more aware now, I am more present, more in tune to the needs of other, and more willing to give. I can remember a time in my life when I didn’t have guilt about anything. If I missed a holiday or birthday with my family, it didn’t even phase me… wow how things have changed now. If you really think about it, the bigger travesty in life would be if you felt no guilt at all?

Once I changed how I looked at guilt I realized, it’s not so bad. Guilt is a by-product of becoming a “finished work”.