Guilt

Torah Sources

• "The danger of feeling too guilty is greater than the danger of not feeling guilty enough (See Sichos Musser from Rav Chaim Shmulevitz Ma'mer 55 in the new edition).
  • If the non-Jewish psychologist can help you be an emotionally healthier person while he respects the fact that your religious perspective can motivate you to try to grow in areas that seem less important to him, that sounds like a good idea."
• Coping With Jewish Guilt

References

• Turning Guilt into Action Lieberman Ph.D., Dovid. REAL POWER: Rise Above Your Nature and Stop Feeling Angry, Anxious, or Insecure (1) . Viter Press (Distributed by Feldheim). Kindle Edition.

Related Entries

• Teshuva
• Shame
• Despair

From GYE Members

• I recommend listing to this talk from Rabbi Shafier who discusses how to approach this guilt.  It is a must listen. #Dave M
• As an aside, there is no word in lashon kodesh for guilt. It is a christian concept. Charata is not guilt; it is regret - the very short term feeling bad about an action as a catalyst for teshuva. It does not mean carrying around a depressive feeling of guilt. Asham also does not mean guilt. Translating a korban asham as a "guilt" offering comes from "their" version of "the Bible". #Hashem Help Me
• guilt although extremely motivating, tends to lead to cycles of being clean and acting out due to the anxiety from the guilt itself. This can become a never ending cycle unless you have some other clearer stronger and healthier motivators. A really good one is gratitude instead of guilt. Guilt leaves us feeling anxious, gratitude doesn't. #wilnevergiveup