The problem with guilt.....is there isn't one

Last weekend I went to PARIS!!!!

That's right.....travel....work....relaxation....and of course great food!

I have spent most of my life as a parent feeling a HUGE burden of guilt whenever I do something "for myself", or "for work". The struggle has always been real.

And many well meaning friends, colleagues, coworkers and mentors have told me "you don't need to feel guilty", and I've tried everything to leave it behind (I even threw it in the fire).

I recently had my first 1:1 session with Sally-Anne Airey's as part of her Evolving Leadership programme.

Like any good coach she asked me lots of questions. She asked me if I could imagine a world where I didn't feel guilt. What would the scenario be.

And I couldn't.

So we talked about all feelings being there for a reason. And what if guilt was a useful feeling to help me orient on what was important in my life.

What if I was grateful for my guilt?

I asked myself "What if it I made friends with my feelings of guilt?"

What if I was a business owner, who travelled and loved her job AND when I travelled and did the work I loved, I felt guilt because I loved my children and my life and my husband.

And suddenly.....I gave myself permission to have those feelings. I let those "bad" feelings have space.

And then just like magic....they didn't feel bad anymore. Like a compass they show me where my heart is.

I went to PARIS!!!! I saw my first outside family member since the start of the pandemic (almost 2.5 years). I had a GREAT time.

AND....I missed my family.

This weekend I'm packing my bags to go on another (guilt) trip.....and it feels great!

Check out our podcast discussion on Guilt