Taking the good with the bad

Is it because I was raised a strict Catholic or is it innate in all of us? Guilt constantly plagues me. Whether it's because I lost my patience with my three year old or wasn't the best friend I could be, there's usually something to feel guilty about. During the day I'm more rational but at night, while lying in bed, I recount my actions from the day and that's when the guilt washes over me like cold water. It startles me and usually keeps me up for quite a while. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't fault myself for everything -- just the instances where I could have been better. I carry this with me in every aspect of life -- exercising, my relationship with my husband, my friends and family, the way I parent my children. Guilt is good because it keeps me aware of my faults, but it's burdensome too. I realize that feeling guilty isn't productive in the sense that there isn't a way to go back and change a situation. Regrets in life keep us looking backwards instead of forwards, and that's not something I enjoy doing or want to pass along to my children. But, again, guilt also allows me to be introspective and highlights the things I need to work on within myself. I guess if I look at it that way, then it could be considered a valuable quality. We're all dealt different cards in life and a part of growing up is figuring out how to play the best hand. I wouldn't say having a guilty conscience is one of my 'good cards', but it is a part of who I am and there's no use in feeling guilty for feeling guilty. Right?