1) When we think back on things we are ashamed of, we often realize that it was in a situation where we had only seconds to react. Another factor: pressure from a person with power over us, perhaps when we were too young to realize it. These two realizations can help us forgive ourselves.

2) If tiresome thoughts of blame and shame are keeping you up in the middle of the night, read P.G. Wodehouse. He offers a wonderful combination of mild distraction, interesting style, and deep, welling rhythm which will quiet your Inner Protester and let you get back to sleep.

Two nights ago I found a perfectly reasonable Wodehouse sentence which had 15 verb forms in it.