As Erma Bombeck wrote, “Guilt is the gift that keeps on giving.”  Many of us confuse guilt with regret or resentment.

Here is an exercise for you to transform and let go of unnecessary guilt:

1. Complete this sentence as many times as you can:

I feel guilty about (or when)

Example: I feel guilty when I can’t leave work to be at special events for my children.

2. For each sentence you wrote, complete the two sentences belowa)
a) I resent (about other people’s behavior, words, lack of support or pressure) . . .
b) I regret (doing or not doing: saying or not saying) . . .

Example:
a) I resent that my workplace is not flexible or family friendly to my family’s needs.

b) I regret not better researching organizations that have flex time and other ways to support family demands.  

3. Look at your a) list of resentments and tell yourself. “I do not have control over other people. I will now let go.”

4. Look at your b) list of regrets and complete the following sentence for each of your above "regret" statements:

In order to take better care of myself from now on I will . . .

To learn more about this exercise look at the article “Anatomy of Parent Guilt” under Resilience for Family on my website at http://www.solutionsforresilience.com/articles.html.