Hello again. This is savvy psychologist. I'm Dr. Ellen Hendrickson and every week I'll help

you meet life's challenges with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear, and

zero judgment.

Now recently, listener Lou wrote in and asked, how do I let go of guilt? She says, I feel guilty about everything, even things I haven't done.

Now, Lou also notes that she was pretty horrible as a teenager and has not been able to forgive herself for being as she says

so selfish and careless back then but she also worries that she's equally

awful now and just isn't aware of it, all of which leads her to feel, you guessed it,

guilty.

Okay, so what can Lou do and what can all of us do when we feel as guilty as a teenage boy with a freshly erased browser history.

Well, this week we'll dive into seven ways to finally let go of the guilt.

So let's get right into it with tip number one. Remember the

flip side of guilt. Now guilt makes us feel lower than a worm's belly. But the fact that we can feel guilt is actually a good

sign, because guilt is a sign of empathy and a the opposite of psychopathy, that is being a psychopath, and found that a significant

part of the answer is a tendency to feel guilt. Plus a predisposition to guilt often goes together with honesty, cooperation, consideration, and conscientiousness,

all good things that the researchers dubbed compassionate morality.

So, for our listener Lou, the simple fact that she worries about being, quote,

equally awful is a sign that she's not.

Lou, if you were truly an awful person, is a sign that she's not.

Lou, if you were truly an awful person, you would not be worried about it.

Now, tip number two is to write any wrongs. Of course, not all guilt is an illusion. If you feel

guilty about a wrong you have not yet righted, go ahead and make amends.

Yes, it is awkward to reach out. Yes, you will find a

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