How to Avoid Regret
Regret. It's a scary thing. If left unchecked, it can disrupt your current state of mind and paralyze your plans for the future. Regret can ruin relationships, prevent you from taking chances, and try new things. But as dangerous as regret can be, it's more common than you might think. As you read this, it's probably not all that hard to think of the last time you did something that you regret. It might be as simple as a regretful purchase. You passed by what you thought were the world's most incredible shoes and just had to buy them. They looked great and felt great in the store. But when you got home, buyer's remorse began to set in. Maybe you live with them, or perhaps you return them.
However, your regret might be more significant than a pair of shoes. Perhaps you decided to take a job in another state or even country. You pack up the family and leave everything familiar and comfortable for a new adventure. Three months into the job, you realize just how much you hate it and want nothing more than to just go home.
That feeling of regret sinks deep in your gut and almost makes you sick to your stomach. It creates anxiety, doubt, fear, and even panic. It's like a tidal wave you can see coming but can't do anything about.
But it doesn't have to be. Regret can be managed--even avoided. You essentially have two clear options when faced with regret. You can either choose to live with it and learn from it. Or correct it. Choosing to live with it means that no matter the bad decision, you make the conscious decision to avoid regret to inform future decisions. Instead, use the bad choice as a learning opportunity. Actively consider what went wrong in your thought process. Were there outside influences you shouldn't have listened to? Did you neglect to consider all the factors? Did you allow pride, an unhealthy desire, or fear of an unknown outcome to get in your way? Take an honest look at why you made the choice you did. Learn from it. And move on.
However, if the option is available to you, consider correcting the mistake. Suppose you regret taking a job, ending a relationship, or neglecting to study for an important exam. In that case, you could pursue the opportunity to take whatever corrective action is necessary - restoring the relationship, retaking the test, etc. If you have the chance to right the wrong, take it. It's a decision you surely won't regret.
Rather than allowing regret to control our present and future, give yourself the space and time to properly navigate the regret and put it to good use. Don't beat yourself up over a wrong decision. We all make them. But if regret is holding you back, decide today to do something about it.
Challenges/Points:
If we are not careful, it's easy to let regret slip into our lives and take over.
Regrets can be big, and they can be small. Either way, they can be avoided or at least managed so they don't negatively impact our future.
The best thing we can do with regret is to either let it go or learn from it.
Questions:
Big or small, what is one decision you made in the past that you regret and has now affected your future?
If you could go back and correct your mistake, would you take the opportunity? Why or why not?
Thinking back to that same regret, what is one thing you have learned from it? How can you move forward into the future without regret holding you back?
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