Past Mistakes

Are you one of those people like many others that engaged in behaviors, got involved in situations or entertained conversations you feel shame or guilty about?

Many confuse shame with guilt and tend to use them interchangeably. Shame is when you focus on yourself. Those negative thoughts that will lead to sadness and anxiety such as “I am bad”. On the other hand, guilt is when you focus on the behavior. Guilt helps a person to identify they “did something bad”. The difference with shame and guilt is that it is difficult for a person to think a different way when their belief is that they ARE bad.

When a person believes their behavior was bad, they can detach themselves from that behavior. A person holding on to shame, makes it difficult to forgive themselves for their past. Forgiving yourself for past behaviors/mistakes is key for growth, healing and mental stability. Once you stop thinking you are a bad person, you can move forward to becoming the person you want to be.