The complexity of human emotions sets the species apart from any other. Instead of living off instinctive behaviors, like other animals, humans have allowed emotions to influence and guide their decisions, their actions. These emotions are largely helpful, inspiring humans to travel down that path which will inspire the fewest negative emotions. Seeking the least painful course leads us to increased morality, to more often choosing the path that is considered, by general consent, to be “right.” However, there comes a time when these feelings become an impediment, a handicap blocking that path that we all walk. These are the times when the painful emotions cannot be dismissed. When emotions become more of a hindrance than a help, they must be cut free. The foremost of these emotions is guilt, one of the most detrimental experiences in the human existence.
Some will argue that guilt is necessary as a guideline against further mistakes. It is essential, they will say, that without guilt, misdeeds would run rampant in our lives. Perhaps, then, guilt is necessary. But would those same supporters argue the same for sorrow, for depression, for self-hatred? These components of the emotional spectrum often travel hand-in-hand; in some cases, one cannot be found without the other. Yet who would argue that sorrow is necessary? Sorrow is guilt’s bosom buddy, it must be considered.
When carefully manipulated, guilt is a tool of those with no better argument to give. The term “guilt trip” is common jargon in present times, and being “guilted” into doing something you don’t want to do is even more common. Logically, one would think that anything that inspires a person to do something that they know they shouldn’t do—something they don’t want to do is another issue of morality—can hardly be a good emotional manipulation. Yet humans succumb it its power, allowing themselves to be persuaded by this powerful emotion that we long to avoid at all costs. When out from under its oppressive cloud, our judgment would be so much more clear, so much more objective, leaving the path of right undisguised. If guilt is overcome, the future, our future, both perceived emotionally and actually, will be so much brighter.
Finally, the positive aspects of guilt are nonexistent, making this need for independence clear. Guilt does not prevent bad things from happening, it merely reminds us of these bad events, these black points in our lives, over and over again, until we nearly go mad remembering. How many suicides, acts of revenge, or simply tears shed were caused by guilt? How many happy moments are interrupted by guilt’s sudden reappearance? How often is a sudden, sinking sensation brought on by the guilt of something that happened so long ago that nobody else remembers? And yet, misdeeds continue to be done. Guilt takes no proactive steps, it only mocks later.
For these reasons, the unfavorable emotion that is guilt must be disregarded. Guilt is humanity’s greatest handicap. By guilt our sight is clouded, leaving us stumbling around in the dark for a pair of glasses to guide our way. If some little, petty misdeed is done unto us, we forgive and forget, as the proverb goes.
Yet, it can sometimes be so impossible to forgive ourselves, so impossible to keep perspective. Becoming independent of guilt is an achievement greater than can ever be imagined, and its excellence cannot be understood until it is actualized.
(sophomore)
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