What is the difference between feeling remorse and feeling guilty?

We realized deep into the conversation that guilt has several meanings. In the court of law, you can be guilty. That is different than feeling guilty. And different still from using guilt to manipulate someone into doing something.

 

At the start of the conversation Lori Donofrio-Galley suggested that remorse comes with empathy and the desire to change. Whereas guilt is something you feel about giving up on your New Year’s resolutions or doing something “bad” that no one knows so it’s somehow okay.

 

Tim Hawkes thought there might be a short-term/long-term difference and that maybe remorse was internal and guilt was external but wasn’t set on that being the right answer.

 

Jim Tam agreed that guilt was a shorter thing than remorse.  He added that remorse suggests that someone else was harmed and that guilt is often self-inflicted. 

 

Overall this was one of those conversations where it was really clear there is a difference in how remorse and guilt are used and what they mean. But getting a handle on it and explaining it well was tough to do in ten minutes.

 

How do you think those two words differ?

 

Connect with the panelists:
Tim Hawkes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timhawkes/

Managing Director of Unlimited Potential. Mental engineer and executive coach focusing on logical and practical solutions to challenging problems.  He is in the UK

 

Jim Tam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimtam/

Is a Principal Client Director with Korn Ferry’s Digital group where he advises organizations on how to improve their sales effectiveness through using world-class sales methodology and technology. He is based in Dallas.

 

Lori Donofrio-Galley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-donofrio-galley-9a970046/

I am a first-born, Type A personality who is loyal and visionary and always finishes! Clients hire me to uncover “angles” and communicate value to produce earned media for growth.

 

Dr Robyn Odegaard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynodegaard/

Concierge High Performance Psychologist providing luxury level support to executives, entrepreneurs, celebrities and athletes as well as the Facilitator of the Quick Hits podcast

 

Want a summary of the Quick Hits plus the links to the LinkedIn pages of each of the panelist to show up in your in-box every week? Let me know where to send it: https://drrobynodegaard.com/quick-hits-notifications/

 

  #QuickHits are designed to exercise your brain by letting you listen in on an unscripted conversation to get other people's thoughts on pertinent subjects. If you would like to join a conversation or have a topic you would like to hear discussed, please message me. https://www.DrRobynOdegaard.com

 

#remorseful #guilty #dontcare