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Originally Posted by Mark Lapierre  Guilt serves the purpose of encouraging us not to do things which might harm others or ourselves in some way.
That depends on the specific cause of the guilt. As mentioned in response to the previous question, morality itself is necessary, and the emotion of guilt is useful....
Other options include examining the specific belief which caused a specific experience of guilt. When you believe that you should act in a certain way and feel guilty when you don't, ask yourself why you believe you should act that way, and what you believe will happen if you don't. If you find that your belief is valid then you should also find the motivation to not do what you believe you shouldn't. It can be tough to change those habits which lead you to do the things you shouldn't do, but if you stay focused on the source of your beliefs (and the knowledge that the beliefs are valid) then the motivation that you experience will allow you to change those habits. |
Guilt serves no productive purpose to someone who's not run by ego. Once you realize your ego caused you to do something wrong, if you can do something to rectify it, you should. You should not feel guilty. It serves no purpose but to punish you for something you already realize was wrong. Even if there's nothing you can do to rectify the situation guilt serves no purpose. In fact, it just makes things worse. It causes you to feel bad and pass on your negativity to others and be unproductive. Apologize and learn from your mistake and renew your commitment to living in the now and not to be a slave to your ego.