John,

First thing’s first, long distance relationships can be quite challenging, especially when you weren’t always physically distant from one another to begin with. However, from my personal experience with long distance relationships, they can be incredibly strengthening in both an emotional and mental sense depending on the circumstances. Therefore, I think it’s best if you simply take a step back, breathe, and address the issue here, which in this case just so happens to be guilt.

Now, I completely understand why you’re feeling upset about all of this, but please remember that in order to overcome any obstacle in life, we must discover the root of the problem and act upon it. As we all know, however, it’s way easier said than done. If you could please give us more information regarding you, your girlfriend, and your relationship overall, I may be able to provide you with more helpful and relevant feedback.

On a whole other note, you’re one step ahead of the game in that you’ve already addressed that there is a predicament here and you’re seeking some beneficial advice so that you no longer are forced to feel guilty. Not to mention, you stirred up just enough courage to come clean to your girlfriend and confess your wrongdoing. For that alone, I give you my sincere respect.

If you truly love your girlfriend, though, which I’m assuming that you do, try to focus on bettering yourself rather than feeling down in the dumps. Yes, knowing that we’re the cause of our significant other’s hurt can be rather difficult, but these kind of things happen from time to time. We’re only human after all, and making mistakes is just something that runs through our blood. What some people don’t tend to understand, though, is that learning from our mistakes actually makes us grow. Always remember that you’re bound to mess up every now and then, but if you just try to put a little bit of faith in yourself, you can change the end result of the entire situation.

Some people feel more at ease with the situation and themselves when they jot down what they’re feeling on paper. Either way, it’s essential that you find a way to release that bottled up negative energy inside you. You could even write a handwritten letter to her expressing both your sorrow and love for her (many women of all ages love that sort of thing!). That way, you’d be able to express yourself and it would more than likely bring a smile onto her face.

Basically, instead of giving your faults the ability to make you frail, allow them to do the exact opposite. You can empower yourself by addressing the mistakes you make as a part of life’s many learning lessons. After all, life’s a prize and shouldn’t be wasted worrying about what you did wrong, but rather what you did wrong and how you later on it made it right.

Good luck! 🙂