Many people wonder why they sometimes do the exact behavior that is the most hurtful to them:  sabotage relationships, not going after what they want, staying confused about where they are with their money. A common reason is feeling guilty about having a better life than the people that you grew up with. If you had parents or siblings who were depressed, addicted, unfulfilled or dysfunctional, you might be tempted to hold yourself back as a way not to feel guilty. Survivor guilt is counter-intuitive to most people. One way to think about it is to imagine yourself at a dinner where you have a nice full plate of  food in front of you and the rest of your family is sitting there in chains.  You might feel selfish either eating the meal or enjoying it. Survivor guilt works the same way. Having a good life might cause you to feel like you’re leaving behind the people you love.