Ending the Guilt-Trip Journey

I'm easily guilted--whether it's into donating money, food, time, or questioning my skills as a pet parent.  Or how good of a spouse I am. Or whether or not I'm ripping off my clients by charging what I charge. You name it--I've probably agonized over whether or not I'm doing it well enough or am even worth it to begin with. 
Evidently, I am not alone.  Sheryl Sandberg writes about this in her new book, "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead". She argues that women are perpetually guilty, while their male counterparts give no second thought to whether or not they are doing the "most perfect" job, or are even "worth" the salary they earn. I thought about this for a few days, and realized that I need to stop feeling so guilty--especially when I've done nothing wrong. I may not be a perfect pet mom or spouse, but really, who is? The fact that I am there, love my family, and do my best to give them good food, a good home, and good medical care is okay. Actually, it's more than okay.  So "Bark" magazine be damned--I need not feel terrible because I don't give my animals home-cooked meals, or take my Dalmatian to the best agility programs the area has to offer. He is loved, has a good home, and most of all, was saved from dying in an animal shelter.
Which brings me to the salary issue. My other half--a guy--has never once come home and worried that he is not worth the money his job pays him.  He never says that maybe he should be doing more to really earn that money.  But me?  Every time some potential client "knowingly" informs me that my rates are high, I feel horrible.  I say "knowingly" because if they really knew, they would, in fact, know that my rates are on the lower end of what folks are charging for my line of work. This changed yesterday.  A woman from a considerably wealthy area of town balked at our rates. Specifically, she wanted an additional visit at no cost, since, in her opinion, I was already charging her so much.  The price she was haggling over? $59 a day, which included having me stay in her home at night. I happily--but politely--told her to call someone else. I was not budging. I am worth the money I charge because I am a professional.  I have business overhead to pay, plus I'd like to be able to have a nice (yet modest) home, pay my personal bills, and not be dirt-poor. The fact is, she'd want to be paid what she is worth too, so why should I want any less? Just because I can live on less doesn't mean I shouldn't earn a living wage. And it also doesn't mean I should work for "free". I felt so good letting her go.  And you know what?  She called back a few minutes later and booked me.  Score one for the newly "non-guilty"!