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CTL-VII-0009

“I feel guilty about something I had no control over.”

CTL · Pillar III, Control CTL-VII · Own Only What Is Yours

Guilt that belongs to you is useful, it points to something you can fix. Guilt for things outside your control is borrowed weight that costs you without paying anything back. Know the difference. Drop what isn't yours.

Your Practice

Ask yourself honestly: did I have a real choice in this? If no, write the words "this was not mine to prevent" and mean them. If yes, identify what you'd do differently, make it specific, then let the guilt serve its purpose and release it.

The Architects

“The commander of the forces of a large state may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken from him.”

Confucius, Analects, Book IX, ch. 26 (James Legge translation)

More under CTL-VII

CTL-VII-0001“I'm obsessing over something I can't control.”CTL-VII-0002“My anxiety is through the roof and I can't shut my brain off.”CTL-VII-0003“I stopped worrying about what people think and I feel lighter.”CTL-VII-0004“I let go of something I couldn't control and found peace.”CTL-VII-0005“I finally accepted that not everything is my responsibility.”CTL-VII-0006“Someone I trusted let me down badly.”
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