I feel like a terrible person sometimes

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  • Guilt is similar to self pity.

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    • Perhaps a bit different. I'm not quite sure, but it seems if someone feels guilty it's because they feel bad about themselves, which is a form of pity.

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      • You get caught in the rain without an umbrella and you think: "Why me?" This is self pity. It's a misfortune that was out of your control.

        You steal someone's umbrella on your route and and think: "This wasn't fair to take." This is guilt. The misfortune of another person was caused by your intention.

        The distinction matters because self pity is unproductive; it's not something you can change. While guilt is something you have control over. For example, I can choose to be kind without asking/hoping for anything in return.

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        • makes sense

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      • In short: Guilt is feeling like you've done something bad. Self pity is feeling like something bad has happened to you.

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