We heard a “should” or a “must” somewhere, and we have internalized these thoughts and opinions as our own. But when these go against what we value and against our own needs, we feel resentful. Listen to your heart, and only focus on what matters most to You.

Before we talk about how to let go of guilt, it is important to understand the distinction between guilt and regret. Understanding the difference between these two feelings will help you see which one is productive and helpful and which one is not. So if you have not had a chance to listen to Episode 021, do that first. In that episode I talked about why guilt is unhealthy and that even though it may seem inevitable at first, it is completely unnecessary to keep carrying around. Guilt sucks the joy out of parenting and the consequences of guilt-driven parenting are quite serious.

Living free of guilt does not make you irresponsible. Quite the opposite — it makes you responsible for the right things. Given how much you already carry a lot as a parent, why torment yourself on top of it with guilt?

The consequences of parenting that is driven by guilt are pretty serious. To name a few: 

❌ We are not our best selves when we carry the burden of guilt. 
❌ We don’t give children what they need because we misinterpret their behavior. 
❌ We are at risk for burnout. 
❌ We build up resentment and are prone to anger. 

Although I listed anger at the bottom, I think anger (and especially suppressed anger), is a huge consequence of guilt. Not only that, but how much guilt actually contributes to anger build-up is often underestimated. Needless to say, we need a solution. You can let go of guilt in 4 Steps and I walk you through them in this episode: 

📌 Understand the cost of guilt 
📌 Prioritize needs over vague expectations 
📌 Set healthy boundaries 
📌 Re-evaluate standards & focus on values​

Want to learn more about emotions and how to use them to your benefit? Sign up here for the Emotionally Intelligent Parenting training.

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