You Feel Guilty About... Not Being A Good Friend/ Daughter
OK, so you forgot to call your best friend on her birthday and you didn't have time to take your mother out for the day when she asked you last week. You're a horrible person and it's only right you should feel guilty. Right? Wrong! Being there for loved ones is important but be realistic and don't make unreasonable demands on yourself. It's not about being there all the time, but at the right time - the crucial sink-or-swim moments and the happy moments.

Mini crisis points, while hard for people you love, are about them, not you. If you expect yourself to never get angry or impatient with friends and parents, it's time for a reality check. Decide what are fair expectations for you as a friend and daughter and look at how you judge yourself when you next feel guilty. If you can connect with your real feelings, then you'll begin to learn what's best for you, rather than what you think you should be doing for others. You Feel Guilty About... being a working mom.

Whether your little darlings burst into tears when you drop them off or skip merrily over to the nursery or school gates-for most working mums, the words 'bad' and 'mother' seem to go together.Guilt happens when we set unreasonable standards for ourselves. So if you believe a 'good' mum stays at home and cooks, you're bound to feel bad.

The key to changing your belief is in making confident choices. If you have sound criteria for your decision to work - whether it's to be a good role model for your children, to provide for their financial future or simply because you're happier working - there's nothing to feel guilty about. You're living your life to the best of your ability for your sake and that of your family.

In fact, studies have shown that children don't suffer at all if their mothers work. Children take their cues from you. Their emotional happiness has less to do with whether or not you're working, and more to do with how you feel about your decision to work. If you show that you're guilty, they'll feel as stressed as you do.