On Guilt and Justification

Here is what I know… if you are truly guilty of something, there is no justification that will get rid of that guilt. It will eat at you, every day, every single day. You can tell yourself anything, give yourself every possible piece of logic as to why you were right to do whatever it was you did, but if you know in your heart you are guilty, no lie you tell yourself will change it. Just as you cannot justify it away when you deserve it; you cannot create true guilt in someone who knows and trusts themselves and where there is no guilt to be had.  But once it is there, it will greet you when you wake, and there it will be when you lay your head down. 

You can, of course, rid yourself of that guilt that you earned by making amends and doing what is right. But that does require you being honest with yourself, and... let's face it, not too many people are keen on that level of self-awareness.  Or you can continue lying to yourself and count the days until that finally eats away at you. The question soon becomes… which is more powerful; the guilt or the lie you told yourself to create your guilt in the first place? Are you greedy, spiteful, petty and malicious? Or are you good, kind, righteous and truly, genuinely justified in your actions? Your image means nothing to guilt. Your conscience will let you know what to do. 

… that is, if you have one. I do. Do you?