Why I’m giving up guilt this new year

I’ve attempted numerous new year’s resolutions with varying degrees of success; giving up alcohol (pretty well), chocolate (a little less well) or social media (appallingly). This year I want to do something more meaningful. Something that will last way beyond 2022. Something that might change my life forever.

I’m giving up guilt.

Guilt that I don’t spend enough time with my children. Guilt that I smother them. Guilt that I didn’t reply to any of the texts I received last week. Guilt that I bought that birthday cake rather than making it from scratch. Guilt that I forgot my best friend’s wedding anniversary. Guilt that I didn’t visit my grandparents enough while they were alive.

Sometimes when I allow my guilt to fester I feel a flood of shame wash over me and a sense of panic beginning to take root.

Healthy versus unhealthy guilt

Now, I’m not saying that all guilt is a bad thing. Sometimes I do things that are awful, and I definitely should feel guilty about them. God gave us a conscience so we don’t just do whatever we feel like, regardless of whether it is right or hurts others. The world would look even more like a Tarantino filmset if we didn’t have this inbuilt guilt mechanism.

Healthy guilt brings us to a realisation (or an admission) that we’ve done something wrong and propels us to a place where we apologise or repent, then make amends. If I stole a pair of trainers from a shop (don’t worry, I didn’t!), I would feel terrible every time I wore them. I would need to ask God’s forgiveness, then return to the shop and apologise. Then I would need to pay for the trainers. After that, there would be no need to dwell on it.

If Jesus died on the cross to take away my sin and shame, why keep wearing it like my own personal crown of thorns?

By contrast, unhealthy guilt causes us to leap to unhealthy conclusions. For example, I shouted at my daughter when I should have calmly asked her to do something. That leads me to believe that I’m a horrible person. She would probably be better off without me. The world would be a happier place if I wasn’t in it.

I don’t often feel like this, but sometimes when I allow my guilt to fester I feel a flood of shame wash over me and a sense of panic beginning to take root. I remember the many other terrible things I’ve done in my life and take a sickening walk down a guilt-strewn memory lane. I wonder why anyone would want to know me.

A better way to deal with guilt

Next time this happens – and it invariably will – I’m determined not to let it take hold of me. Instead, I will ask:

• Was it actually my fault? Often I feel guilty about things I have no control over. If it wasn’t my fault, I should simply move on.
• Is it as big of a deal as I’m making it out to be? If no one has been hurt as a result of my actions, it probably isn’t worth losing sleep over. I should move on.
• Do I need to repent/apologise and make amends? If so, I should get on and do it, then forgive myself and move on!

Most importantly, I am committed to taking my guilt to God. If Jesus died on the cross to take away my sin and shame, why keep wearing it like my own personal crown of thorns? I should lay my guilt at my saviour’s feet and thank him for paying the price for it. Then instead of moving on, I should allow myself to rest in his amazing, unconditional love, which has wiped the slate clean.