Why Do I Feel This Way... And How To Change It
Regret
An emotion that arises from wishing a past decision had been different.
Why do I feel this way?
What does regret mean?
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
What can help right now?
- Forgive yourself for making decisions with the knowledge you had then.
- Extract the lessonRegret 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
Drew finds the unsent draft months later: ‘I’m sorry. Can we talk?’ The relationship ended before courage caught up. Regret immediately offers a cruel fantasy in which one earlier message fixes everything. Drew cannot return to that night. Drew can read the draft without looking away, name the fear that caused the silence and send a different message to someone still within reach. The past stays closed. The lesson does not have to.
“The past can hurt. But you either run from it or learn from it.”From Rafiki, The Lion King
Imagine regret becoming easier to carry. What support or change helped make that future possible?
Showing A moment in real life of 3
Where it can lead