Thoughts

Regret is a feeling of sadness or disappointment caused by something that has happened or something that you have done or not done. Regret is typically considered as a negative emotion. The reason why regret feels so awful is because it implies there is something you could have done, some choice you could have made, or some action you might have taken that would have made something good happen or avoided something terrible.

While you can’t avoid regret, there are things that you can do to minimize the bad feelings associated with it. There are things you can do to take the negativity out of those feelings and turn your regrets into opportunities for growth and change. Kendra Cherry, MSEd, offers the following tips for coping with regret:

• Practice Self-Acceptance. Acknowledge and accept what you are feeling. By doing so you are able to recognize you are always learning, changing, and growing.
• Forgive Yourself. This involves making a deliberate choice to let go of the anger, resentment, or disappointment you feel. You  may not be able to change what happened,  but by forgiving yourself you can begin to move forward and commit to doing better in the future.
• Apologize For Mistakes. It may be helpful to apologize to other people who may have been affected. A sincere apology can let the others know that you feel remorse about what happened and that you empathize with their feelings.
•  Take Action. Use your experience to formulate future action. Consider what you may have changed or done differently. Use the negative as an opportunity that will allow you to make a better choice or decision in the future.   
• Reframe It. Acknowledge that mistakes of the past have shaped who you are today.

Bottom line, remember that events of the past do not determine your future. You are capable of making better choices and decisions when you set aside the negativity of regret and view it as an opportunity.

The line that often comes to my mind is: “Wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger.” But don’t look back too long; keep learning, evolving, and moving forward.

Bringing it Home

The Team at Vandenack Weaver strives to have no regrets, but sometimes they cannot be avoided. We continue to learn, adapt, change, and grow in all areas of practice and in representation of our clients. The thing the Team at Vandenack Weaver is exceptional at is – Always doing our Best.

Have a great rest of the week and weekend. Don’t regret what might have been; celebrate what you accomplish.