Glucksshuld
The guilt one feels at one's own good fortune - the inverse of Schadenfreude.
Also known as: Success Guilt, Fortune Guilt, Glücksschuld
Category: Principles
Tags: psychology, emotions, successes, guilt, fortunes
Explanation
Glucksshuld (German: Glücksschuld) is the guilt one feels at one's own good fortune. It's essentially the inverse of Schadenfreude (pleasure at others' misfortune).
This emotion manifests in various ways:
**Survivor's guilt**: Feeling bad for having escaped hardship that affected others.
**Success guilt**: Discomfort with achievements when others are struggling.
**Privilege awareness**: The uncomfortable recognition that your advantages are unearned or arbitrary.
**Crisis avoidance guilt**: The ability to choose to ignore various crises when you want to, while knowing others cannot.
**Why understanding Glucksshuld matters:**
1. **Validates a common feeling**: Many successful or fortunate people experience this but don't have a word for it.
2. **Enables healthier processing**: Naming the emotion helps address it constructively.
3. **Informs giving and helping**: Understanding this feeling can motivate positive action rather than paralysis.
4. **Balances perspective**: While some guilt can be healthy, excessive Glucksshuld can prevent enjoying legitimate success.
The solution isn't to eliminate the feeling but to channel it productively - using your good fortune to help others while also allowing yourself to appreciate what you have.
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