I often wish I always made perfect decisions in my life. Unfortunately that doesn’t happen. If you, like me, make choices you wish you hadn’t, how you handle those feelings of regret sets the tone for reaching your destiny.
When you allow yourself to wallow in regret, you give negative emotions power over your life. It drains you of your energy. Energy that could move you forward. Energy you could direct towards creating success on your own terms.
Regret is your mind’s way of getting your attention. It can serve a positive role in your life. In her article, The Psychology of Regret, Melanie Greenberg discusses the impact of regret and ways it can be used as a positive force in your life.
1. Harness the Positive
Acknowledge your regret and recognize its potential to help you. Look at the choices you’ve been making. Are your choices giving you the results you were hoping for? In similar situations, what could you do differently to get the outcomes for which you were hoping?
2. Change What You Can
Identify your sphere of control. While you are 100% responsible for your life, there are things over which you have no control; limited control; or complete control. Determine what things fall into each category. What can you change that would alter your current situation? What do you need to do to get back on track?
3. Learn and Grow
Mistakes are an opportunity learn about yourself and grow. What factors hindered you from making a better decision? What beliefs impacted your decision? Are those beliefs valid or do they hinder your long-term success? What can you learn from the experience?
4. Accept and Let Go
There are aspect of situation over which you have no control. If you can’t control it or influence it, accept it and let go.
Taking 100% responsibility for your life doesn’t mean you don’t make unwise choices. It means you learn from them; correct your course; and direct your energy towards moving yourself closer to achieving your goals.