What to do if you feel guilty too often
(Even when you know, on some level, that you've done nothing wrong)
The other day, I was reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Judith Viorst, and she said, of her late husband: “Milton didn’t do guilt.”
That really struck me. Because I literally cannot IMAGINE what it would feel like to be Milton. To be one of those people who assume that their conduct is always fine, or at least understood, or at least forgiven.
Today’s Kindred Letter is for you, if you tend to inappropriate guilt, the telltale signs of which often look like:
*apologizing automatically
*assuming you’ve offended someone without realizing it
*replaying conversations, worrying that you’ve said too much or not enough or the wrong thing altogether
*feeling responsible for other people’s emotions
Today, we’ll touch on WHY you might feel this way — but mostly we’ll focus on HOW to free yourself from this form of guilt.
There’s a lot to say - this letter is chock-full of practical advice - so please, read when you have a few minutes to take notes and think!