To believe one is good enough despite mistakes is essential to confiding, to acknowledging one's own humanness. It is essential to self-worth and to the ability to appreciate the worth and humanness of others. Guilt precludes love, pleasure, closeness and intimacy. Along with creating walls, it can also create monsters. It is important as an adult to own responsibility for one's behavior, to be able to acknowledge mistakes, to accept criticism or complaints, to be willing to make atonement, to express genuine regret in order to be free to take in love, the pleasure that is possible between true intimates.
Religion provides a haven for confession and atonement.
Spirituality concerns developing the capacity for love. Psychotherapy concerns the healing of emotional wounds. Guilt is the intersection where religion, spirituality and psychotherapy can meet and join forces to nurture the growth of compassion, empathy and love.