Obeying negative legacy emotions is like feeding wild critters. They will take over and grow in power until we have unmanageable beasts trying to overwhelm us from inside our heads. We need to stop feeding the squirrels in our heads. We can start by refusing to listen or respond to them.
Many people live amid so much guilt, shame, or anxiety that they become like a fish that has been swimming in polluted water since escaping its egg. The poor fish may have no idea that it is living under abnormal environmental conditions.
Yet it will feel the equivalent of fish joyfulness when it finally experiences fresh,clean water. This will be the same for you.
Guilt, shame, and anxiety are so painful that we will do almost anything to ward them off. To avoid feeling guilt, we make no choices that seem remotely bad, selfish, or self-serving. To avoid feeling shame, we hold back our opinions at work or in our marriage, and we never try anything creative, like writing,artwork, or dancing. To avoid feeling anxiety, we give up taking risks or trying anything new or different.
Culled from Guilt, Anxiety and Shame by Peter R. Breggin
Abdulkareem,Taoheedah Kehinde
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