How we choose happiness when our morality is compromised

We know what’s right and wrong based on two things:

1. How we would feel if someone did that to us. This is pretty self explanatory. If we would feel bad having someone else treat us like that, then it means what we’re doing is bad.
2. What our moral compass subconsciously tells us. To make things even more complex, not everybody’s moral compass is set with the same configurations, meaning we can believe something is fundamentally wrong, whilst someone else will believe it to be warranted.

No matter what someone believes is right or wrong, their morality is one of the most vital aspects of our humanity. Without it we are worse than animals, for we have the intelligence, motives and capacity for carrying out the most horrendous acts. In the moment when our morality becomes compromised through certain choices we make, it can throw our entire psychophysiological system off balance, creating havoc between mind, body and spirit. Guilt is to the spirit what pain is to the body. It can dissolve your self worth and extinguish enjoyment. If guilt becomes too strong, and we live daily in constant regret, that’s when the downward spiral turns into depression, unhealthy coping mechanisms and thoughts of self sabotage.

The reality is that what’s been done cannot be changed, but the way we look back on it can be. Guilt is a powerful force which can either hold you back or show you what you need to shift in your life. Eventually, if you want to survive it, you’re going to have to emerge as a better version of yourself. This is not about guilt or innocence now, the point is, it’s time to turn a page. In order to continue through life with any type of happiness, you have to learn to let go. Not just of the wrong things that have been done to you, but also the wrong you feel you have done. So whenever you find your mind swirling and your stomach tensing, remember these 5 ways of choosing happiness and acceptance:

1) Choose happiness

You have punished yourself enough

The fact that you are feeling such guilt, proves to yourself that you do have a healthy moral compass, and it wants you to do better next time. Acknowledge the feelings, understand that it’s your best aspect making you feel this way, and close the door on it. Hopefully you have learned from your mistakes, and moving forwards means you will do better. That is all anyone can ever hope to do.

2) Choose happiness

None of us are innocent

Know that as a human race we are all in it together. Nobody is fully innocent and everybody has made mistakes. You are not the only one that has experienced what you’re dealing with, and just because you’ve made a few wrong turns does not mean you are a bad person.

3) Choose happiness

It may be irrational

Guilt isn’t always a rational thing. Guilt is a weight that will crush you whether you deserve it or not. Did you ever stop to think that your belief system may not be the be all and end all? Perhaps you can ease up on the guilt trip, perhaps your actions were not as bad as you believe them to be. This is a personal conversation that you need to have with yourself looking upon the situation as an unbiased outsider. Take into account the great scale of things, and where your wrongdoings fall on that scale.

4) Choose happiness

Time is of the essence

And we cannot ever go back through it. That means from now on, every moment, you’re getting closer to your curtain call. Your time here on earth is so limited, that a life wasted on sorrow and shame is an insult to life itself. Remember that you are not alone, remember that you have punished yourself enough, remember that it may be irrational and remember that time is too precious to waste it.