Learning from Regret

Regret is a Shared human experience, if we  normalise it and neutralise it, and accept we all make mistakes. By taking this path  we will find redemption and  we will be happier and identify more meaning from the regret. Once we normalise it and contain the emotion we can then craft a redemption story.

Here are some actions we can take:-

o   Generous act to outweigh a selfish act

o   Thoughtful act to outweigh a careless act

o   Hard work to offset laziness 

 All of the above can be character defining  Regret residue mark eg. a tatoo use this as motivation to anticpate future regret   Alfred Nobel had so much regret for creating dynamite he created the nobel prizes as his legacy.

Dan Pink's book the Power of Regret gives you 4 Categories:-

·       Foundation regrets “If only I’d work hard in my 20s”

·       Boldness regrets “If only I had taken that girl out”

·       Moral regret – “If only I had done the right thing”

·       Connection regret – “If I had only reached out” 

The thrill of defeat and the agony of victory.   Post interviews after the Olympics – bronze medallists happily at least I have a medal and the Silver medallist if only I was a few seconds faster...

 At least deliver comfort and consolation the if only by contrast make us feel worse.  We are built to seek pleasure & to avoid pain.   Sadly when looking at daily diaries – if onlys outnumbers the at leasts.  Regret is the quintessential "if only".  It very purpose is to make us feel worse because by making us feel worse today, regret helps us do better tomorrow