---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Feeling guilt dims our light. Instead of…"
description: "\"“Feeling guilt dims our light. Instead of dimming our light to make others feel more comfortable, we could just continue to shine and foster the rise o..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/790/alaric-hutchinson-22784_compassion_feeling-guilt-dims-our-light-instead-of_2212993.jpg"
---

#  Feeling guilt dims our light. Instead of dimming our light…

![“Feeling guilt dims our light. Instead of dimming our light to make others feel more comfortable, we could just continue to shine and foster the rise of the vibrations of those around us. Being Happy and Feeling Good does not mean you have no compassion for the misery of those around you. It simply…” quote by Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/790/alaric-hutchinson-22784_compassion_feeling-guilt-dims-our-light-instead-of_2212993.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/790/alaric-hutchinson-22784_compassion_feeling-guilt-dims-our-light-instead-of_2212993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/790/alaric-hutchinson-22784_compassion_feeling-guilt-dims-our-light-instead-of_2212993.jpg)

> ““Feeling guilt dims our light. Instead of dimming our light to make others feel more comfortable, we could just continue to shine and foster the rise of the vibrations of those around us. Being Happy and Feeling Good does not mean you have no compassion for the misery of those around you. It simply means you won’t dim your light to make them feel comfortable – instead, you’re going to help light the way. At first, your light may be a bit too bright for others and it may hurt their eyes, yet it’s far better to shine rather than to hide your light. When you hide your light for too long, it extinguishes and you slip right back into darkness…unable to find your way until someone ‘shiny’ comes along to light your way and help you to find the light you still possess within, your Soul’s Magnificence.””

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Living authentically means not sacrificing your inner joy to please others; instead, you illuminate others while staying true to yourself.

**In simple terms:** Be true, shine bright, help others without dimming yourself.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your light, inspire others.

Themes

self‑esteem compassion leadership

Mood

empowering reflective

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- team meetings
- personal growth workshops
- counseling sessions
- creative collaborations

Key Concepts

authenticity emotional intelligence

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance personal joy with others’ comfort?
- When does shining become imposing?

A Different Perspective

If you over‑share your intensity, you may overwhelm or alienate listeners.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Feeling guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-guilty/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Inner peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-peace/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Law of attraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-of-attraction/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light and darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-and-darkness/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Zen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zen/)

## Related quotes

> [“It is the job of light to speak out against darkness. Become part of that light when you see wrongs against humanity by speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/it-is-the-job-of-light-to-speak-out-against-darkness-become-part-of/)

[Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/)

> [It feels amazing when you help someone else see the light. Be that person, be a blessing and have an amazing time doing it!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/it-feels-amazing-when-you-help-someone-else-see-the-light-be-that/)

[Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/)

> [“My help—it’s not a light switch you can turn on and off. My help starts right now, and after this point you don’t get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-lothlorien/my-help-it-s-not-a-light-switch-you-can-turn-on-and-off-my-help/)

Elle Lothlorien

> [Isolating, shutting down, and feeling guilt about pain makes it linger so much longer. Reconnecting, trusting, and being open and honest is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-murray/isolating-shutting-down-and-feeling-guilt-about-pain-makes-it-linger/)

[Jaime Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-murray/)

> [Anyone can be shamed, but feeling guilt requires empathy within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/anyone-can-be-shamed-but-feeling-guilt-requires-empathy-within/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [A sublime religion inevitably generates a strong feeling of guilt. There is an unavoidable contrast between loftiness of profession and imperfection of practice. And,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-sublime-religion-inevitably-generates-a-strong-feeling-of-guilt/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [The city has always been an embodiment of hope and a source of feeling guilt; a dream pursued, and found vain, wanting, and destructive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-raban/the-city-has-always-been-an-embodiment-of-hope-and-a-source-of/)

[Jonathan Raban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-raban/)

> [Many people suffer all their lives from this oppressive feeling of guilt, the sense of not having lived up to their parents' expectations. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/many-people-suffer-all-their-lives-from-this-oppressive-feeling-of/)

[Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/)

> [“are capable of expressing boundless emotion, nearly all of which is intentional and nearly all of it drawn from the language of your mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cornwall/are-capable-of-expressing-boundless-emotion-nearly-all-of-which-is/)

Michael Cornwall

> [“The trouble is that practically everything one does nowadays is illegal,” said Giles gloomily. “That’s why one has a permanent feeling of guilt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/the-trouble-is-that-practically-everything-one-does-nowadays-is/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [I was just a kid. I think I stole a candy bar. I remember feeling so terrible. It was the worst shock. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/i-was-just-a-kid-i-think-i-stole-a-candy-bar-i-remember-feeling-so/)

[Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/)

> [A guilty conscience never feels secure. The feeling of Guilt that overwhelmes you is the nerve of sorrow that will never let you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kev-moores/a-guilty-conscience-never-feels-secure-the-feeling-of-guilt-that/)

Kev Moores

> [It doesn't matter whether I'm judged criminal. I have a great feeling of guilt - I have a feeling that I ran after Hitler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-frank/it-doesn-t-matter-whether-i-m-judged-criminal-i-have-a-great-feeling/)

[Hans Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-frank/)

> [“This feeling of guilt is your conscience calling your attention to the higher road, and your heart wishing you had taken it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/this-feeling-of-guilt-is-your-conscience-calling-your-attention-to/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [“And I say no. The problem is the light, the dim light down here. Cupped in the palm of my hand, the cyanide and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/and-i-say-no-the-problem-is-the-light-the-dim-light-down-here-cupped/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

## More by Alaric Hutchinson

> [“If we aren't willing to change, we aren't willing to unconditionally love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/if-we-aren-t-willing-to-change-we-aren-t-willing-to-unconditionally/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“Your judgments about another person say more about your own character than the character of the person you are pointing a finger at. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/your-judgments-about-another-person-say-more-about-your-own-character/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“Isn’t it funny how we make rational excuses for being out of alignment? We say, “Well, this \_\_\_\_ and that \_\_\_\_ happened, so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/isn-t-it-funny-how-we-make-rational-excuses-for-being-out-of/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“When using the Law of Attraction to manifest one’s more desired reality, it is not simply enough to shift one’s conscious thoughts – for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/when-using-the-law-of-attraction-to-manifest-one-s-more-desired/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“Bravery is listening even when you don't want to hear it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/bravery-is-listening-even-when-you-don-t-want-to-hear-it/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“There is never a reason good enough to be out of alignment with peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/there-is-never-a-reason-good-enough-to-be-out-of-alignment-with-peace/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“We're so afraid of being hurt that we become the abuser first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/we-re-so-afraid-of-being-hurt-that-we-become-the-abuser-first/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“Love is being able to view a situation without adding duality to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/love-is-being-able-to-view-a-situation-without-adding-duality-to-it/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“If you lack open communication and honesty in your life – It’s time to look within. Are you someone who handles heavy, emotional, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/if-you-lack-open-communication-and-honesty-in-your-life-it-s-time-to/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“The moment we accept our pain is the moment we release our suffering. Suffering is created when we offer life resistance, and what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/the-moment-we-accept-our-pain-is-the-moment-we-release-our-suffering/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“It’s all about reprogramming our minds to focus more on what brings us joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/it-s-all-about-reprogramming-our-minds-to-focus-more-on-what-brings/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“On the road to success, there is always room to share appreciation and gratitude for other people’s successes. Feeling gratitude for other people raises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/on-the-road-to-success-there-is-always-room-to-share-appreciation-and/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“Unconditional Love is the external expression of Inner Peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/unconditional-love-is-the-external-expression-of-inner-peace/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“Being under stress is like being stranded in a body of water. If you panic, it will cause you to flail around so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/being-under-stress-is-like-being-stranded-in-a-body-of-water-if-you/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

> [“It’s true that many overly negative people actually fear letting go of their negativity, and it’s because it has become a part of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/it-s-true-that-many-overly-negative-people-actually-fear-letting-go/)

[Alaric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

[Explore all 27 Alaric Hutchinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/)

## More Compassion quotes

> [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/)

Segun Magbagbeola

> [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/)

[Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/)

> [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/)

[Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/)

> [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/)

Talib al Habib

> [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/)

[Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/)

[Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Feeling guilt dims our light. Instead of dimming our light to make others feel more comfortable, we could just continue to shine and foster the rise of the vibrations of those around us. Being Happy and Feeling Good does not mean you have no compassion for the misery of those around you. It simply means you won’t dim your light to make them feel comfortable – instead, you’re going to help light the way. At first, your light may be a bit too bright for others and it may hurt their eyes, yet it’s far better to shine rather than to hide your light. When you hide your light for too long, it extinguishes and you slip right back into darkness…unable to find your way until someone ‘shiny’ comes along to light your way and help you to find the light you still possess within, your Soul’s Magnificence.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alaric Hutchinson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/feeling-guilt-dims-our-light-instead-of-dimming-our-light-to-make/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Compassion"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/feeling-guilt-dims-our-light-instead-of-dimming-our-light-to-make/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/790/alaric-hutchinson-22784_compassion_feeling-guilt-dims-our-light-instead-of_2212993.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/790/alaric-hutchinson-22784_compassion_feeling-guilt-dims-our-light-instead-of_2212993.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/790/alaric-hutchinson-22784_compassion_feeling-guilt-dims-our-light-instead-of_2212993.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Feeling guilt dims our light. Instead of dimming our light to make others feel more comfortable, we could…” — Alaric Hutchinson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alaric Hutchinson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaric-hutchinson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Feeling guilt dims our light. Instead...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/feeling-guilt-dims-our-light-instead-of-dimming-our-light-to-make/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaric-hutchinson/feeling-guilt-dims-our-light-instead-of-dimming-our-light-to-make/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
