Book one · source page 41
Regret
An emotion that arises from wishing a past decision had been different.
Why do I feel this way?
Regret occurs when you look back and believe a different choice might have created a better outcome.
It is rooted in learning, loss, and sometimes harsh self judgment.
Regret shows that your actions and their impacts matter to you.
How to change or channel it
- Forgive yourself for making decisions with the knowledge you had then.
- Extract the lesson: Regret without learning stays stuck.
- Make new choices that honor what you now know.
- Allow regret to soften you, not harden you.
A little more light
Living with this feeling
Original Lantern Project guidance inspired by this topic. This section is not copied from the source book.
Jordan notices regret while moving through a difficult week. Instead of judging the feeling or forcing it away, Jordan names what is present and chooses one supportive practice: forgive yourself for making decisions with the knowledge you had then.. The feeling may still be there, but it is no longer the only voice directing the moment. Jordan has created enough space to choose what comes next with greater care.
“I can acknowledge regret without letting it define every part of me. I can listen to what it may be showing me and choose one caring next step.”
What might regret be asking me to notice, protect, accept, express, or change today?
Where it can lead