Headspace_logo_svg
Try for freeTry for free
AdviceGuilt

Guilt

If you’re feeling guilty about a past event, here’s how to ease your mind of that heaviness.

Try 14 days free
Share:

Better mental health starts with Headspace. Unrivaled expertise to make life feel a little easier, using guided meditations, mindfulness tips, focus tools, sleep support, and dedicated programs.

Better mental health starts with Headspace

Guilt is a, I think it's a very interesting obstacle. In some ways it's not, not maybe so dissimilar from regret. Something has happened in the past. We wish it was different in some way. Perhaps the way we handled it, something we said, something we did. And, if we could, we would go back and we'd change it. But, of course, we can't. And, so the mind likes to entertain itself with the idea that if it can't externally, then at least internally we can go back to that point and replay the situation over and over again. Now, on the one hand, again, a bit like regret, there is a, there's a really important purpose to it. It's good that we don't sort of retrospectively feel okay about something that we've done which wasn't very nice. You know, it's really important in terms of our future behavior and and how we kind of sort of relate to those around us in the world, and of course, relate to ourselves. But there is no real benefit to remaining caught up in that and playing it over, and over, and over again, and almost setting out with the intention to make ourselves feel bad about something that we've done. So, by all means, take a short period of time, you know, 30 seconds, a minute, to be clear in your mind about whatever it was that happened. Make that 30 seconds or minute also a time to be clear in your mind, to put down the intention to not repeat that in the future. And then, it's about letting go of both the past and the future and simply being present with what's unfolding right now. And, it's only by doing that, that we can impact our future. If we're living in the future in our mind, that's not the future. That's just an idea of the future. It's only by being present with this moment, now, and then the next, and the next, that we can genuinely impact our behavior and our experience in the future. Of course, guilt can encompass so many things though. And, for some people, you know, and for some things, the guilt might not be very significant. It might come and go quite quickly. For some more serious things, then guilt can really become quite sort of chronic you know. Again, it's really important that we're not negating what's happened. We're not not taking responsibility for that, or sort of owning that, but we are saying, "Look, there is no benefit to either ourselves or to people around us, by maintaining that conversation in the mind, and by continually judging, criticizing, and berating kind of any thoughts and feelings that we have. So, over time, if we can approach, even if it's a very kind of chronic sort of feeling of guilt about something very serious, if we can come to a place where we can approach that situation in our mind with a...

Details

TypeAdvice
Duration4 min

About your teachers

  • A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.

    More about Andy
  • Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.

    More about Eve
  • As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.

    More about Dora
  • Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.

    More about Kessonga
  • Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.

    More about Rosie
Your lifelong guide to better mental health

Your lifelong guide to better mental health

Stress, sleep, and all the challenging emotions — care for your mind with the everyday mental health app that's shown to make a difference.

Try 14 days free
Look After Your Mind

Look after your mind

Proven guided meditations and programs to help you stress less, sleep more soundly, and better navigate life’s challenges

Science Backed

Science-backed

Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being

Explore Content

Explore 1000+ 
expert-led exercises

Access our library of meditations, breathing exercises, and guidance videos for stress, sleep, focus, everyday anxiety , parenting, and more.

Member reviews

Hear from some of our members

Your app brings so much peace and tolerance to our home.

Rachel

UK

Member-Icon-01

Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.

Davide

London

Member-Icon-04

The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.

Alicia

Canada

Member-Icon-03

Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.

Keri

UK

Member-Icon-02

Related to 'Guilt'

More to explore

Beginning Meditation

Explore-More-Icon-02

Reframe Stress and Relax

Explore-More-Icon-01

New and Popular

Explore-More-Icon-03

Becoming a Mindful Parent

Explore-More-Icon-04
    • Terms & conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Consumer Health Data
    • Your privacy choices
      Privacy Choices Icon
    • CA Privacy Notice
  • © 2024 Headspace Inc.
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Consumer Health Data
  • Your privacy choices
    Privacy Choices Icon
  • CA Privacy Notice