Regret can be an incredibly painful emotion.
Find out which option is the best for you.
What Is Regret?
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It is a bang out ofcounterfactual thinking, which involves imagining the ways your life might have gone differently.
He suggests that regret is not only perfectly normal, it can even be healthy.
According to Pink, regret can act as a source of valuable information.
Or take the negativity out of these feelings and turn your regrets into opportunities for growth and change.
For example, regret can be motivating.
Efforts to avoid future regrets can help youmake better decisions.
Practice Self-Acceptance
Acknowledging andaccepting what you are feelingis essential.
Accepting yourself and your feelings does not mean you don’t want to change things or do better.
It just means that you are able to recognize that you are always learning, changing, and growing.
Accepting your mistakes is one part of this process, but forgiveness also requires you to practice self-compassion.
It is an acknowledgment that mistakes of the past have shaped who you are today.
It is about reframing that regret and seeing it as a learning opportunity that helps buildresilienceand wisdom.
What Causes Regret?
Anytime you are required to make a choice, there is an opportunity for regret.
Did you make the right decision?
Could things have turned out better?
Would you be happier if youd chosen differently?
But what exactly causes people toregret some decisionsand not others?
According to researchers, opportunity itself plays a major role.
Researchers refer to this as the opportunity principle, which suggests that more opportunity leads to more regrets.
Regret
Control and opportunity can play a role in whether or not you experience regret.
But when many different options are present, you’re more likely to regret your choice.
What Do People Regret Most?
Interestingly, people are often more likely to regret inaction than action.
This is because actions not taken are more subject to imagined outcomes.
Common regrets center on areas of life including education, career, and romance.
In addition to regretting choices, people often regret not taking certain actions in the past.
Impact of Regret
Regret can take both a physical andemotional tollon your body and mind.
Fear of future regret can also affect your behavior.
Coping poorly with regret can lead to stress and emotional pain.
It can also affect your future behavior.
Takeaway
Regret is an aversive emotion that can be difficult to overcome.
“Accept life, and you must accept regret,” said the philosopher Henri-Frederic Amiel.
Roese NJ, Summerville A.What we regret most… and why.Pers Soc Psychol Bull.
2005;31(9):1273-1285. doi:10.1177/0146167205274693
Pink D.The Power of Regret.
