Guilty by Association

I am further looking into the topic of guilt. As per my last post, a new view on guilt emerged- that is to say guilt that comes from being associated to something. Sounds a lot like grudges to me. What do you think?

I once knew of a person in a work place and she had a relationship with someone who had a falling out with the boss. Well because she had some kind of connection to this person, she was being treated differently, with lack of respect and value, and life became miserable for her to the point where she ended up leaving her job.

I think it was completely unfair for the boss to have treated her as if she was in the wrong. Her relationship with the person he had problems with was irrelevant to her work ethic. This happened many years ago, and she still holds ill feelings toward her former employer for these actions.

This situation is what is called guilty by association. You don't do anything wrong, not hurting anyone or anything, but are treated unfairly because you are associated either with another person, place, or activity. Have you ever suffered from this behavior? Sometimes we do this and not even realize it. But we all need to differentiate the circumstances in our lives and dissociate the people involved and make decisions with fair reason and thought.

I would never again want to see people being treated or limited to do something only because they are associated with an outside force. People who are victims to being guilty by association can become resentful or associate anything relating to their situation with negativity and the party you are associated with may feel bad, or GUILTY, that someone else suffered due to their association with THEM.

What I am getting at is one negative emotion can create more negative emotions. But same goes for the reverse. A positive emotion can create MORE positives. As a martial artist, I want to do nothing but produce positivity everywhere I go. And by observing what creates negative, I can compare it from what I don't want to create to what I DO want to create. Guilt is one of those underhanded emotions that we need to be aware of, because it creates more negative. Everywhere we go, we should want to create good feelings of happiness, excitement, gratitude, or encouragement. Those emotions create more positive energy around you and others.

Help out by doing this little exercise. When we see people today. Just smile at them! Give every person you come in contact with a big smile! Leave a positive mark on everyone you come in contact with in that small way, and see how much positive energy will follow you and everyone else around you!

Yours in service,
ANDREW TRENTO