Related But Not the Same: Guilt and Shame, Embarrassment and Humiliation
As an EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) practitioner I ask my clients all the time, "How does that make you feel? What emotion does that bring up for you?" While I often hear guilt and shame being used interchangeably, they are related but not the same.
Guilt is feeling bad about a particular action you have taken. If you did something you consider wrong such as lie to, cheat, betray or hurt somebody, then guilt is an appropriate feeling and can be a catalyst for self-improvement. From guilt can come remorse, which implies a genuine sorrow at having hurt someone. Remorse generally leads to positive deeds such as admitting your mistakes, taking responsibility for your actions, a true apology, and a commitment to changing your behavior.
On the other hand, if you know you tried your best i...