What to do if conscience torments? This question was asked at least once in a lifetime by every person. The concept of torment inflicted by conscience, each has its own. Some mean guilty feelings, others mean shame.
The reasons for awakening remorse are also different. Some people worry about perfect acts, others are ashamed of their own feelings, personality traits or character. There are many who are tormented by the pangs of conscience because they did not do something, showed indecision or weakness, cowardice.
There are many manifestations of the torment of conscience , they are different, however, like the reasons that awaken them. Therefore, before thinking about what to do if conscience torments, you need to understand what it is.
What it is? Definition
According to the definition, conscience is a special quality, a person’s ability that allows him to navigate independently in matters of morality and morality, to control himself and to evaluate actions, intentions, actions.
Thus, conscience is an internal censor for every person. It manifests itself in the form of awareness of the conformity of committed or planned acts, thoughts or feelings to the standards of morality, both personal and accepted in society.
What is understood by conscience?
Most often, conscience is understood as follows:
- ability to evaluate own actions or plans, thoughts;
- the ability to control their desires and impulses that run counter to accepted principles of morality;
- awareness of responsibility for decisions and actions;
- the presence of strict internal rules and following them.
Accordingly, the question of what to do if tormented by conscience arises in people who have transgressed through their own internal ideas of decency. If a person violates the moral principles of society, which do not correspond to his personal internal qualification, then, as a rule, he does not suffer remorse.
What kind of people say they are conscientious?
A conscientious person possesses certain character traits, personality traits that manifest themselves daily in his behavior, actions, and attitude to other people.
Such a person never puts his own interests, feelings or desires above the needs of others. This does not mean that he forgets about himself for the sake of other people's feelings, goals or desires. Conscience is not at all synonymous with altruism. A person with this quality simply takes into account not only his own interests, but also the people around him, too.
Such an individual does not commit rash acts that go against his internal principles and beliefs. If a responsible decision has yet to be made, he will invariably consider it based on moral and ethical ideas.
As a rule, such a person does not wonder what to do if he is tormented by conscience. All the actions that he performs in life correspond to his ideas about decency, morality, duty and honor. Moreover, the actions of a person with such a character trait do not change depending on whether they learn about his actions or not. Even in solitude, he still acts in accordance with his conscience. In other words, the inherent qualities of such people are sincerity, honesty, decency and lack of hypocrisy.
What kind of people are deprived of conscience?
People whom people say: “Neither shame nor conscience” have a certain list of personal qualities that are manifested in their actions and in relation to others.
People deprived of conscience have such personal qualities:
- egocentrism, extreme self-love;
- cunning, the desire to profit personally from everything around;
- tendency to manipulate others;
- ambition;
- hypocrisy or duplicity;
- lack of principles and beliefs.
This list can be continued. Unscrupulous people never care about anyone but themselves. They do not take into account the needs and requirements, desires and interests of others. In any of their decisions and actions, such people are guided only by their personal goals, interests and desires. They are completely devoid of internal principles, beliefs and have no idea of moral values.
However, such people are skillfully disguised. They are quite capable of giving the impression of being cute, kind, sympathetic and decent, if it is necessary to achieve any goals.
Why are people tormented by conscience?
Why is man tormented by conscience? This question was still of interest to the philosophers of antiquity, and today psychologists are actively engaged in the search for answers to it.
The most common version of why people are tormented by conscience is the explanation of this sensation by the recognition of the incorrectness of their own actions or intentions. In other words, people feel internal spiritual discomfort, lose their peace because they feel guilty and ashamed for the actions they have taken or the plans they have made, for the decisions they have made, someone said harshly offensive words and much more.
Awareness of one’s own immorality and immorality comes, as a rule, suddenly. Quite rarely, people prone to experiencing the torment of conscience deliberately transgress through their own life principles and beliefs. For example, if a person is “gnawed” by conscience because of a minute manifestation of weakness or cowardice, then an immoral act was committed, as a rule, under the influence of strong and uncontrolled emotions, such as panic or fear.
Often a feeling of guilt arises before a decision or action, if necessary, to do something that runs counter to one’s own convictions and ideas, but which is correct from a public point of view or dictated by “higher goals”. For example, the manager decides to reduce the number of employees. This is a necessity, moreover, the only possible rational way out of a specific situation. But this decision is contrary to internal beliefs, principles and ideas. As a result, a dilemma arises - to go broke or to reduce staff, that is, to act against one’s conscience. Of course, any responsible manager in such circumstances dismisses part of the employees, because if the enterprise ceases to exist, then absolutely everyone will be on the street. That is, by sacrificing a part, a person preserves the whole. But understanding this nuance only leads to the right thing, it does not relieve the torment of conscience and feelings, the feeling of betrayal and irresponsibility.
How to deal with conscience?
How to make conscience not torment? First you need to understand for what reasons it does not give a person peace. And having understood why this is happening, try to correct your mistakes and mistakes.
Unfortunately, “working on mistakes” in life is often impossible. If this is not corrected, then you must continue to avoid such actions, and for those already committed, ask for forgiveness. If there is no one to forgive, you can apologize “nowhere” or talk to someone about your feelings.
It is much easier for believers to cope with mental torment than for atheists. In every religion there is such a thing as repentance. If the torment of conscience is unbearable and nothing can save them, you need to go to the temple. Those who, for whatever reason, do not want to do this, need to seek help from a psychotherapist.
The only thing you should not do is try to forget, drown out your inner voice. Pangs of conscience will not go anywhere and will not go away on their own. They are a symptom of a mental crisis, indicate an intrapersonal conflict. Attempts to ignore such a condition only exacerbate it.