Why do we feel GUILT ?

When we are consumed with GUILT.

Guilt often appears when our focus or attention narrows into story— and we become fixated on what should have happened, what could have been different, or who we believe we needed to be.

Can you remember the first time you felt the sharp edges of guilt?

Your own personal verdict.

That memory and all the others flood back when you feel the sensation once more, each and every time you believe it and you condemn yourself.

How do we see guilt differently?

As with any change it can dissolve instantly by being willing and open to knowing that you create your own guilt story.

Q: Who is feeling guilt?

Ans: I AM

The I in I AM is the awareness of who you truly are ? Sit with this a while.

When we are growing up, we learn how to behave, have manners, and to speak through the significant adults in our lives, adults who care for us and those who educate us and sometimes we are influenced by peers and the media.

We either learn through unconditional non romantic love or fear.

Those are the belief systems we know. The fear based system creates barriers - initially to control how to keep us safe and to behave 'properly' with approval we seek to gain. I had a teacher at school I was afraid of and I avoided learning that subject well. I had another teacher I saw as kind and I became a teacher because of her.

Some of my automatic behaviours that pop in when I am least aware come from my upbringing and include NEVER being late (I am always hours too early!) Always being polite (I am often invisible when this kicks in) being judgemental (I had a parent who demanded perfection and I learned to judge their version of perfect at a young age ). A mixture of modelling, culture. choices and life events create the personal self (for me that's the Anni). The Anni I am today is completely different than the twelve year old avoiding history, the 16 year old rocker with backcombed hair , or the newly married wife and teacher, the executive leader, or eventually the intuitive life coach. Each role brought new experiences and ever changing beliefs.

Being aware of the unconditional I

The I is ever present, unchangeable, the awareness and ultimate truth. Anything after the I is changeable and subject to being influenced by our learned behaviours and barriers. Like guilt.

When awareness is remembered, guilt is no longer something to solve or overcome; it is simply an experience arising and passing within a much larger field. I explore this further in my Path of Stillness online course currently on offer Events | Annipoole.com

Awareness itself is untouched by blame or failure. It does not judge what moves through it, and it does not ask to be forgiven.

As attention gently rests here, guilt may still be felt, but it loses its hold. It becomes a sensation, a thought, a memory—no longer a personal verdict. In this resting, something softens naturally.

Path of Stillness framing: Guilt is not wrong or bad — it simply arises when attention leaves stillness and then we create its story. We stay in the feedback loop of retelling and believing the story, sometimes it feels as if we live there. When stillness is remembered, guilt is no longer personal. It is a sensation.

Rupert Spira says

"Awareness is the ground in which experience appears. " Read that aloud and hear its message.

A summary for you :

• From awareness there is no attack on the self

• We are not denying pain - we are becoming aware of it differently

• Stillness dissolves guilt without effort

A Simple Reminder: Notice what’s here before the thought ‘I did something wrong.’

Come and discover how to live life with ease and grace, it is a far more graceful experience of life, I live here even as a Mum grieving for her son in spirit. Step onto The Path of Stillness course today.

Events | Annipoole.com

READERS OFFER my online introductory course OFFER only £30 UNTIL the end of March.