1. When introspection reveals shortcomings, there could be an impulse to feel guilty.
2. Guilt, as an expression of concern for others or as a perception of shortcoming or awareness of a deviation from values, can propel us to positive action and help us to adapt and change.
3. But guilt can be counterproductive, when it makes us look back in anger at ourselves or when it gets to be an obsession with blaming oneself and others.
4. We need to be circumspect about guilt which degenerates into self-condemnation and an expression of one's worthlessness.
5. A common propensity is to look back in anger at the role which parents, society and religion sometimes play in one's conditioning, particularly when it is perceived as being responsible for some of the problems in our lives.
6. If we step aside and recognize that the act of blaming is yet another conditioned response which ties us down to the past, then we could find liberation in owning responsibility for ourselves on an as-is-where-is basis.
7. We could then take recourse to the healthier option of forgiveness and love which liberate us from hatred, and helps us to remember that we owe a debt to our parents and society for the gift of life and nurturance.
8. Above all, we are responsible for choices born out of our new-found awareness and for our happiness in the future, hence when guilt about a past that cannot be undone weighs us down, it is best to let go of both the guilt and the past, and look to this moment in graceful acceptance of the opportunity that life offers.
9. Introspection should also not be mistaken for negative self-doubt, as this tends to challenge the very basis of one's positive self-image leading to negative thinking.
10. Introspection is a positive self-help measure as it addresses shortcomings with understanding and compassion, rather than destructive guilt and self-criticism, as the idea is to support and not disparage oneself.
11. Your self-image is the most valuable treasure you possess, and introspection should be directed towards reinforcing one's positive self-image, instead of fault-finding and self-recrimination which are counter-productive.
12. Introspection is a gradual process of indivdual maturity to become more human, more positive and more aware, with a feeling of ease and peace pervading your personality, making you less irritable, less argumentative, less judgemental, less condemnatory and less defensive.
2. Guilt, as an expression of concern for others or as a perception of shortcoming or awareness of a deviation from values, can propel us to positive action and help us to adapt and change.
3. But guilt can be counterproductive, when it makes us look back in anger at ourselves or when it gets to be an obsession with blaming oneself and others.
4. We need to be circumspect about guilt which degenerates into self-condemnation and an expression of one's worthlessness.
5. A common propensity is to look back in anger at the role which parents, society and religion sometimes play in one's conditioning, particularly when it is perceived as being responsible for some of the problems in our lives.
6. If we step aside and recognize that the act of blaming is yet another conditioned response which ties us down to the past, then we could find liberation in owning responsibility for ourselves on an as-is-where-is basis.
7. We could then take recourse to the healthier option of forgiveness and love which liberate us from hatred, and helps us to remember that we owe a debt to our parents and society for the gift of life and nurturance.
8. Above all, we are responsible for choices born out of our new-found awareness and for our happiness in the future, hence when guilt about a past that cannot be undone weighs us down, it is best to let go of both the guilt and the past, and look to this moment in graceful acceptance of the opportunity that life offers.
9. Introspection should also not be mistaken for negative self-doubt, as this tends to challenge the very basis of one's positive self-image leading to negative thinking.
10. Introspection is a positive self-help measure as it addresses shortcomings with understanding and compassion, rather than destructive guilt and self-criticism, as the idea is to support and not disparage oneself.
11. Your self-image is the most valuable treasure you possess, and introspection should be directed towards reinforcing one's positive self-image, instead of fault-finding and self-recrimination which are counter-productive.
12. Introspection is a gradual process of indivdual maturity to become more human, more positive and more aware, with a feeling of ease and peace pervading your personality, making you less irritable, less argumentative, less judgemental, less condemnatory and less defensive.