Overcome Remorse

"Remorse is the poison of life:
repentance and reformation are said to be its cure."

(Jane Eyre)

* * Remorse is like a double-edged sword.  If remorse has given you insight about what you did wrong in the past ... and if it has motivated you to never again repeat your mistake ... then it has served its purpose. But if remorse is endless ... and if it keeps you feeling unforgiven, and if it keeps you trapped in a cycle of doing nothing ... then it is just wasting your valuable life energy.

* * If you drink the poison of remorse continually ... you will cloud your mind, depress your emotions, strain your Spirit, and wear down your body.  The only way to handle remorse is by taking immediate action to heal it ... learn from it, and move past it.

* * When you feel bad about the past, one way to deal with this feeling is to put "right what went wrong." Saying you are sorry is the first step because it shows that you know that you have done wrong.  Doing whatever you can to "right the wrong" shows that you are truly repentant.  Never again repeating that wrong is the truest sign of your repentance … and the greatest proof that you have learned from your mistakes.

* * When you have made a permanent change in your actions, speaking and thoughts ... your repentance becomes a reformation.  True reformation comes from a track record of results that takes time to establish. The more destructive your behavior has been in the past, the longer it will take to prove that you have truly reformed.  Remember that those who love you will want to have a better relationship with you, and will forgive you.

* * When you cannot "pay back" the past wrong that has been causing you remorse ... another way of handling your feelings is to "pay it forward" by doing random act of kindnesses.  Smile at someone, say a kind word, help them to laugh, open the door for them, give them your seat on public transportation, and so on.  When you start showing love and kindness to others, you begin to overcome remorse ... and will also feel better about life and your Self.

* * Oh. And, of course, pray.