I don’t dwell on regrets, but I think about them. Perhaps it’s due to my experience as a hospice bereavement volunteer where I listened to end-of-life regrets or possibly because I’m past middle-age. While regrets include all the “might-have-beens” and “what ifs,” they consist of unaccomplished goals, unfulfilled dreams, and things left unsaid or undone. It’s interesting that these are things that bother people the most at the end of life, but we can control many of them.
Regret is a valuable motivator. It can provide clarity. Reflecting on past actions and learning from them can lead to better choices in the future. Regrets also serve as catalysts for change, prompting new opportunities. I would have regretted not getting my bachelor’s degree. To avoid that regret, I chose to enroll in college at forty-nine years of age. If I had not pursued my love of writing, my dream of becoming an author would have died with me.
We can’t control the weather, past events, or other people’s actions and opinions. However, we can control our actions and behaviors, our thoughts and feelings, our goals, and our self-care.
No one is guaranteed tomorrow, so why not prioritize what matters while you’re alive and capable of change? When we strive to minimize regrets, we avoid missed opportunities. While living a life with no regrets is impossible, we can be intentional with our choices. It’s important to make decisions that align with our personal goals and values. If we pursue what really matters and we do not let fear or discomfort hold us back, we will minimize our regrets.
Ask yourself, ‘What would you regret not doing?’ This should include many aspects of your life–health, career, finances, relationships, and spiritual matters.
“If we know what we truly regret, we know what we truly value.” -Daniel Pink