Guild upon the conscience, like rust upon iron, both defiles and consumes it, gnawing and creeping into it, as that does which at last eats out the very heart and substance of the metal.
-Robert South
-Lao Tzu
What is guilt? Guilt is the pledge drive constantly hammering in our heads that keeps us from fully enjoying the show. Guilt is the reason they put the articles in Playboy.
-Dennis Miller
Guilt-a painful feeling of self-reproach resulting from a belief that one has done something wrong or immoral
Guilt. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt. Do you ever see a word, say a word, or write a word so much that it means nothing to you?
I know what guilt is. I feel it constantly right now. But looking at it, seeing it, hearing it, does nothing.
I'm guilty of many things. I don't even think I should feel this guilt, but I do.
It shouldn't be me. It should be him. It should be them. It should be the people who constantly have implanted in my brain that if you do one wrong thing, or don't do something, then 1. you're either going straight to hell or 2. you're an awful person, and don't deserve to be apart of this family.
Well, maybe it's true that I don't belong, but it's not because I don't deserve it. I think it's the other way around.
Maybe that's just me.
Guilt is such a stupid emotion. Of course there are some reasons to feel guilty and some of those reasons are valid, but besides those very few, Guilt is just something made up by the people who want to make everyone else feel bad about themselves rather than having to deal with their own problems.
I found an article by Mark I. Myher called 'The Psychology of Guilt.'
In this, he talks about how "Guilt exists as a fabricated emotion. It holds little or no realness," because real emotions, like love, fear, hate, anger, sadness and happiness have a positive and negative side. Guilt doesn't. It's one sided. It's like a leech.
Myher continues to tell how Guilt is intertwined with our conception of love. Which is pretty true if you think about it. But remember, it's the conception of love. You think you love someone, or at least you're supposed to love someone and treat them well and be obligated to do things, say things, feel things. If you don't, you'll feel guilty. It's the stupid social guidelines on how to live your life. Screw those. Just because somebody is 'related to you' does not mean they're your family. It does not mean you are obligated to love them, to show any feelings towards, or even to do anything for them. This is what helps bring on the guilt.
You don't have to feel guilty, but you do anyway. Everybody does. And it eats away at your insides, at all those gooey, mushy, lovely feelings you feel, until you no longer feel anything but anger, resentment, and hatred. Especially towards those who are trying to make you feel guilty.
We are taught at a very young age to seek love and acceptance. We are taught that to be loved, we must follow certain guidelines, eat our vegetables, pray every night, go to church every Sunday, share our cookies with our little brother, and many other things. If we don't do those, we won't be loved. We feel guilty when we feed our vegetables to the dog, or excuse ourselves to the restroom to spit them out in the toilet. We feel guilty for not going to church, we feel guilty for not cleaning up our rooms. We feel guilty, because we are taught that to not do something right, means our parents will not love us. And without their love and acceptance, we will fail.
I don't believe that for a second. If I forget to clean my room before I go out, or I don't go to church, then my mother will not love me? Not true at all. It doesn't make me a bad person. It doesn't mean I'm a sinner, or horrible, or that I am unfit for society. I know she loves me regardless, but then again, she is one of the only people who has never made me feel guilty on purpose.
People, especially family, try to make you feel guilty. They try so incredibly hard, it makes me sick. If making someone else feel guilty makes you feel better about yourself, then maybe it's you who is going to hell, or at the very least, needs some serious help.
Guilt is why we follow the 'norms,' do what is deemed popular, and try to avoid disagreement with those we look up to. It's the deeply ingrained need for external approval. It's the need to feel like you fit in.
What happens when you don't agree with what the snobs who sit in front of you in your lit class say? Does that mean you should feel guilty? Does that mean you should go to confession right away? "I'm sorry Father, for I have sinned. I was led to believe that Northface jackets are not cool...I have learned my lesson. I will now go make my parents buy me three different $200 jackets. Amen!"
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
Maybe it's not Guilt that is stupid. Maybe it is the ignorant people around you, who are the stupid ones. The people who, like I said before, make it up and make you feel guilty, just so they can feel better about themselves.
