We are taking a look at guilt as one source of what’s holding us back from doing the things we want to do. Yesterday we started out by looking at what guilt is and how it holds you back from living the live you want to live. In order to break through and start making some series progress, you have to let go of the guilt or fear. That’s what we’ll cover today.
Table of Contents
First Things First …. Find The Source
The first step in this process that I’ll walk you through over the coming days is to find the source. It’s obvious, isn’t it? If you don’t know exactly what you feel guilty or fearful about, you can’t come up with a plan to work through it and let go. Of course that’s easier said than done. If it was easy, we wouldn’t go through a 7-day process to stop holding back and letting go of the guilt (or fear of failure or fear of success).
It’s important that you’re committed to discovering what’s holding you back and what you may be feeling guilty or fearful about. It’s important that you’re brutally honest with yourself. It’s not going to be easy. It is however going to be helpful, eye-opening, and very productive.
Taking Time for Self-Reflection
Start by giving yourself some time to think. We live in a loud and busy world that’s full of distractions. It’s hard to hear yourself think sometimes, isn’t it? It’s also easier to stay busy and keep plugging away than it is to stop and take some time to reflect.
Find a quiet place, get comfortable and let your mind wander.
- Start to think about what you want to accomplish.
- Take a look at what’s holding you back (guilt, fear of failure, fear of success). What thoughts or tasks start to make you feel uncomfortable when you think about them?
- What part of the journey gets your stomach in a tight knot?
- What is causing doubt to creep in?
Pay attention to all of it and see if you can start to pinpoint this feeling of guilt, fear of failure, or fear of success – and where it may be coming from.
A Journal Can Be Helpful
A journal is an excellent tool in this process. Grab a notebook, open up your word processor, or get a new journal and start to write your thoughts down. Putting it on paper can be very clarifying. It forces you to focus and organize your thought processes.
It also gives you something to come back to and read later in the day or a bit down the road. This reading of your thoughts and what’s going on in your head can help you discover underlying causes as you “read between the lines.” Give it a try and see if you find journaling helpful in this process.
Make a Plan to Identify the Source Going Forward
Last but not least, it’s important to realize that this will be an ongoing process. New feelings of guilt (or fears of failure or success) will pop up from time to time. Be on the lookout for them so you can address them right away. Again, journaling is a great tool for this. At the very least, be aware and listen to your mind and thoughts going forward.
Tomorrow
Finding the reason for the the root cause of what’s holding you back.
