Guilt is a sneaky thing. People can guilt you, or you can even guilt yourself. You might not even know that you have guilt. If you have dealt with guilt in one are of your life, but leave a little seed in there, it will grow right back. That’s when the slightest thought, or even a word or look from another person can bring it all back up again. Our brain keeps the score, and our body is the record. If you’re dealing with feeling guilty about liver disease, these steps to let go can help you move on. Have you been feeling a nagging sense of guilt from mistakes that might have made your liver worse? Letting go of guilt can be hard, but you can move forward into a happier, healthier life. If your feeling guilty about liver disease? Steps to let go are just below.
Mentally Letting Go of Guilt
Acknowledge and Accept Guilt – Just like anything else, the first step to letting go of guilt is acknowledging and accepting that you feel guilty. It doesn’t matter what caused your liver disease. It could be from eating poorly and getting NAFLD or fatty liver. Maybe you’ve indulged in too much alcohol. Perhaps. you made a lifestyle choice that led to liver inflammation. Call it what it is and say: I’m tired of feeling guilty. Avoiding or denying guilt will only make it more challenging to let go of.
Apologize if Needed – We’re talking about your liver here. Within weeks of my liver totally failing, I learned this great exercise from my cousin. Put your left hand over your right ribcage and tell it you are so sorry. You can learn more about that here. If your guilt stems from something you did wrong, write out an apology and then deliver it to the person you hurt. This might help repair the relationship. Most of us are trying to mend our relationship with our liver right now.
Emotionally Letting Go of Guilt
Forgive Yourself: – Forgiving yourself is at the center of the process. It’s okay to make mistakes. That is how we grow. Forgive yourself totally. You would give someone else the same advice. Try to focus on the lesson and use it as a growth opportunity.
Practice Self-Compassion: – Working though guilt is not a one off thing. It takes time and repeated efforts. Be kind and gentle with yourself. Write down some great self care practices. Put them where you can read them a few times a day. Read it out loud. You are human and deserving of love and forgiveness.
Take Action Steps to Beat Guilt
Make Amends: If your guilt is related to a mistake that you made that contributed to liver disease, try to make things right. For example, quit drinking alcohol. Start eating a liver loving diet. Be prepared to put in the work of making dietary changes. Swear off of sodium. Start carrying a healthy lunch or snack bag when you leave the house. Clean out the fridge. Make it up to yourself.
Learn from the Experience: Hard times and adversity can open the door to growth and self-improvement. Begin to think of your wonderful, but wounded, liver as point of change in your life. Make a vow to not repeat past mistakes. I work over my mistakes and mine it for every nugget of gold that I can.
Feeling Guilty About Liver Disease? Steps to Let Go
After hashing and rehashing what you did wrong, realize that at some point, you’ve got to let go of the guilt. It may take time, but by acknowledging your feelings, apologizing if necessary, forgiving yourself, practicing self-compassion, making amends, and learning from the experience, you will eventually be able to release the guilt and move on. Remember that letting go of guilt is a process, and it is okay to take your time. I hope this helps you if you are feeling guilty about liver disease and learning the steps to let go. xo Karen
