#guilt

#guilt

Looking back, most parents and adult children are going to have some regrets about their adolescent time together. They may regret what they did (commission) or didn't do (omission)-mistakes made or opportunities missed. Commission regrets might be: "I wish I hadn't lied to them about so much and grown so far away." Dishonesty costs intimacy, creating distance from distrust. Or: "We held onto her too tight when we should have done more letting go!" Their need to control delayed important youthful learning from life experience.

Whether your pup is super expressive or more stoic in their vibes, dogs just never really hide how they're feeling. You always know where you stand with man's best friend and, sometimes, that can be a little alarming. Like when you walk in the door after work and are met by your dog peeking around the corner with their ears back.

Perfectionists often feel a deep sense of shame over even minor infractions, which exacerbates their internal distress and leads to black and white thinking about worth.

Maladaptive guilt keeps us stuck in self-blame and hinders growth. Guilt can be broken down into smaller parts to examine objectively.

For many of us, especially women, ambition and parenting have long been thought of as rival (if not warring) priorities. A parent who is all-in at work is assumed to be checked out at home.

Say no to guilt-driven commitments. Recognize that constantly saying yes can lead to burnout and resentment, distancing you from genuine connections with others.

Guilt, while seemingly negative, can provide an illusion of agency, suggesting that our efforts can influence change, masking an underlying sense of hope.