I think most of us would agree that we are not in the practice of self-betrayal. We don’t intentionally do things or make decisions that would purposefully bring us harm. Except we do make decisions that unintentionally do bring us harm.
When we are presented with a choice, we have the option of honoring our morals, values, beliefs, desires, etc. or betraying them. When you make the “right” decision, there are usually positive side effects. When you make the “wrong” decision, it can lead to all sorts of negative effects.
I was recently presented with a choice. A very big decision had to be made and there were a lot of moving parts. I chose to move forward, because I didn’t want to be excluded and let other people down. While there were definitely benefits to being involved, deep down, from the very beginning, I knew this was not what I wanted.
Guilt is a feeling generated by personal accountability for making a poor decision. Shame is a feeling of not enough, that we are flawed and unworthy. Not only did I feel guilty for choosing to move forward, but I also spiraled through a shame storm. There were constant reminders that this was not what I wanted, and the toll of each of those reminders shamed me into emotional turmoil. I was ignoring all of the red flags. 🚩
This was a very big lesson for me in learning to live impeccably. I went against everything I knew to do, because I was too afraid to step outside the security of my circle. But not only that, I was feeling guilted and shamed for wanting to step outside my circle! There’s a lot more to this story, and the intentions on both sides were genuinely good. But either choice in this decision led to hurt. This was a really shitty position to be in. Ultimately, my choices were these:
- Be involved – Make a big sacrifice for myself in the beginning knowing that there will be small self-betrayals in the future but not hurt the people I care about.
- Not participate – Make a big sacrifice for myself in the beginning knowing that there will be small self-betrayals in the future and hurt the people I care about.
After lots and lots, and lots of thinking, I chose to stay true to my commitment, even though it really wasn’t what I wanted. The initial hurt will fade, and I will be less angry over time. There will be discomforts along the way, but I’m choosing to believe that they will be moments to test my growth.
I believe I made the “right” decision, because my heart was in the right place. If I was going to hurt myself either way, I might as well hurt myself and not hurt the people I care about.
Choosing to participate actually gave me more control over the situation. If I hurt the people I care about, I can’t control how they manage their emotions, and relationships could suffer. But I know I have the strength to manage my emotions. Although it hurts like hell, relationships are still in tact. While they may take on a different shape in the future, I am choosing to create those boundaries.
So often I write about the power of choice, and the ability to control what you can control. At some point though, we are faced with a decision that isn’t good for anyone. At the time, will you choose to be selfish or selfless?
