Is guilt a healthy emotion?

Guilt, according to Brené Brown, can be a healthy and adaptive emotion. She explains that guilt arises from the dissonance between one's actions and who they aspire to be, making it a psychological discomfort that can motivate positive change. Unlike shame, which focuses on self-worth ("I am bad"), guilt focuses on behavior ("I did something bad")1. This distinction is crucial because guilt encourages self-improvement, whereas shame often leads to negative outcomes like addiction and depression 2.