Do you know this feeling? I certainly know it. Some people make me feel bad for having a great time, some I make feel bad for not having this much fun, some I feel bad for because I would love them to have this much fun, so I feel guilty. When I spend the money on something seemingly non-essential I feel guilty. I don’t make much, and here in the US I’m probably one of the poorest, yet I still spend on things I don’t have to have, but I want to have. Then I feel guilty.
Well, at least I used to, but not anymore. The best thing that I can do is to make the most of my life. For example, when my family is going through something difficult and I’m not there but I’m here having the time of my life, I should feel guilty, but I choose not to. If I was there with them - which I did many times before - I was miserable after a period of time. My smile was gone, my good vibes were gone. Then they feel sad for me. Who does this benefit? By being here and being happy takes away one concern. They don’t have to worry about me.
With this positivity, I can support them from here because I have the energy that I can pass on. I have a contact source of positivity here, but not where I’m there, so the best thing I can do is to stay happy, share my energy, show a good example, keep them hopeful and motivated when times are rough. Why do I spend money or things I don’t badly need? Because they are either my self-reward for an achievement - and I never forget to reward myself - or just protest against money fear. I’m done worrying about what I spend my money on. It’s my money so I can spend it on whatever I want.
I stopped feeling guilty because it’s a poisonous feeling. It minimises the fun, the success and under aims at everything that I do. I can’t fully avoid it, there are always exceptions to all the principles that I write about, always. But following the 80-20 rule, it works most of the time. Feeling guilty for having a great time just ruins the great times. So no more.