Guilt
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It was month of August in year 2005. We were still recovering from the
disaster of 26th July 2005 in Mumbai. Flood affected rail transport
between Kalyan and Titwala stations. It was not working till next 15 days.
Railways started transport on single track after 15 days and we got relief from
high rented auto rickshaws and municipal buses. I was studying networking in
Jetking institute those days and had to travel till Kalyan daily. I could not
miss it since my career was depending on it. I remember the day when I left
classroom at 8:30 PM with Trainer’s permission to catch 8:40 PM Asangaon train
from Kalyan station. Since there was no train for around 1.5 hours after this
train, I started running from Institute.
Two men were walking carrying something with them in plastic bag. Since I
had to catch the train and I was running, I tried to avoid them but somehow that
bag got pushed away and fell down. I yelled “Sorry” to them instantly and
reached Railway station. When I was looking for train details on railway indicators,
those two men reached me and asked me to pay some money as they were carrying
medicines for their son. I felt sorry for them. I searched and found Rs. 10
note in my pocket which I gave to them. I said sorry again and rushed to catch
train. During return journey, I was thinking about them and blaming myself for my
wrong deed. When I reached home, I prayed to God for that boy. I prayed for his
health. I am not sure whether he is alive or not, how his parents did collect
the money for his medicines or not. But I still pray for him. It’s only because
of one thing, that Guilt in my mind.
Guilt is an emotion that occurs when a person believes that they have violated
a moral standard that they themselves believe in. When we hurt somebody close
to our heart, somebody whom we respect so much, we feel bad and guilty. We feel
guilty when we feel responsible for an action that we regret. There are several
types of guilt. People can feel ashamed, unworthy or embarrassed about actions
for which they are responsible. That does can be referred as true guilt or
guilt. People can feel guilty about the events for which they are not
responsible. That is the false guilt. False guilt is as painful as true guilt.
Guilt is the emotion which is connected with Shame. The dictionary
meaning of Shame is “Uncomfortable or painful feeling due to recognition or
consciousness of impropriety, dishonor, or other wrong in the opinion of the
person experiencing the feeling. It is caused by awareness of exposure of
circumstances of unworthiness or of improper or indecent conduct.” Wherever
there is Guilt, there will be shame. Being ashamed, people will try to avoid
their mistakes in future apart from uncontrolled situations. People will try to
improve. An American writer Erma Bombeck once said “Guilt is the gift that
keeps on giving.” Guilt helps you to improvise. Guilt helps you to live better
life. We just need to consider our attitude towards it.
Our attitude towards guilt can be negative or positive. One thing is sure that we can’t change the
things from our past. Still if we feel guilty for some mistakes then we shall
not stay with them for longer. We shall not give them room in our brain for
long time. Else we will keep remembering them and their memories and it will be
hard for us to live in the present world. Negative attitude towards guilt may
lead to an extreme condition such as suicide. Negative guilt can lead us to
failure in life, which is never good.
People shall look at guilt positively. They should learn something and
lead this to success and live longer.
As like an American businessman Alan Cohen says “Guilt: punishing
yourself before God doesn't”, punish yourself for the guilt and get rid of it.
A small room for guilt into our memories is good but it shall not affect our
lives. We shall learn something from it and take something positive out of it.
The feeling of Guilt and Shame is good also. And it shall be there somewhere with
us for our wrong deeds.
Sunit S.
Pendse
5th
March 2014
Sunitpendse.blogspot.com
too good !! simply great (y)
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