Exploring how chronic self-blame and pessimism can lead to physical, emotional and spiritual distress, this book guides the reader on a healing voyage of recovery as he or she learns to release the toxin of guilt from the mind and body, and help to achieve a refreshed sense of well-being. In her work at Harvard University's Mind/Body Clinic, Borysenko encountered many patients whose physical illnesses didn't respond to her treatment. Looking deeper, she discovered that the illnesses seemed linked to metaphysical problems, to a spiritual pessimism or guilt which coloured the lives of the patients concerned. Using case history examples, affirmations, exercises and guided meditations, she helps readers to overcome their own guilt, and learn to embrace a new philosophy of spiritual optimism based on unconditional love, compassion and forgiveness for others and themselves. Anyone suffering from feelings of unworthiness or dissatisfaction should look at the guilt factors in their lives.