Regret is a load of baggage that you lug through life. And it doesn’t get any lighter as the years go by.
Let’s lighten things up a bit with this GenuLines look at some alternatives.
Why Regret Is a Useless Emotion And What To Do Instead
So you’re feeling sad, sorry or disappointed over something that you did or did not do. This is the textbook definition of regret.
And regret can cause terrible feelings of guilt, sadness, and even depression.
In its extreme, anxiety can soon turn into anger or resentment. You can be so unhappy with your lot in life that you begin to take that anger out on others.
Although regret is a common emotion, it’s pointless. You can’t go back in time and change past decisions.
When you live in your regret, you’re wishing for a new outcome from an old script. This a functioning level of insanity, but insanity nonetheless.
And it can cause emotional and sometimes physical distress.
Regret can also play a major role in impacting happiness. If you feel regret you may be hard on yourself; almost to the point of severe self-pity.
A big problem here is that you cloud your ability to trust in yourself.
You’ll continue to defer to the past as opposed to looking toward the future. Basking in regret will leave you blind to the good in front of you.
Although it seems easy to wallow in regret, it’s self-harming.
How to Combat Regret
Acceptance is the key to overcoming your regret. Trying to change the past is impossible and only results in frustration.
So it’s important to make peace with your previous decisions and move forward. Take responsibility for your actions and learn how to make better choices in the future.
Making the best of your bad choices shows maturity and positive thinking. Once you make a decision it’s done.
Instead of worrying about the past, why not find something positive in your present. This involves asking yourself some questions:
What can I do to make this situation better?
How can I adjust my attitude to see the positive?
What can I currently change?
These questions can help you analyze your current situation and look for the best. This will turn your negative disposition toward the positive.
Being able to overcome feelings of regret can make you a stronger person. You’re embracing positivity as opposed to living in the past.
One way to turn your regrets into an opportunity is to think about any good that’s resulted. Have you grown as a person?
Have you learned a valuable lesson?
These questions will help you to further see the good in your past. Yes, regret can be frustrating and painful.
But you have the power to keep it from controlling you.
JohnK 12-4-2023
Overheard: “Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection; nothing is lost that is born of the heart”
Article image by @felipepelaquim on Unsplash
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