Overcoming Regrets

WORTHY WORK

Struggling with having regrets is totally normal but it’s also limiting. The goal is to discover a new way to view your decisions and see that regret really isn’t an option. Consider that the opposite of having regrets is to experience contentment, happiness and satisfaction. Here are some tips to help you experience more of these qualities and move away from regrets:

Uncover Your Real Fears – when you find yourself dealing with regret and beating yourself up for decisions that you made in the past (or present), look deeper to see what you may really be fearing. It sounds silly to the conscious mind, but often we look for all the reasons why things won’t work out and then seek evidence from the past to prove ourselves right. This false-evidence seeking keeps you stuck but “safe”. It keeps you stuck in what you know vs. trying new things and experiences. Your goal is to uncover why you may fear embracing a new, unrecognizable, positive way of life vs. staying stuck in what you know – even if it makes you unhappy.

Realize Regret’s Purpose – after you delve into some of the deeper fears you may have about embracing change, get clear on what regret’s real purpose which is: to keep you stuck. Regret is an emotion that sucks your energy and your self-esteem. In order to transform and move towards more positive experiences, you must train yourself to look at your life through a spiritually optimist lens. Switch the view from regret to purpose. Consider how even your most regrettable mistakes have contributed to your character building and even your life’s purpose. What have these regrets taught you and how could what you’ve learned from this experience benefit others? There is always a silver-lining and higher purpose to decisions we make – we just need to look for it.

Dwell In Possibility & Positivity – let’s all take Emily Dickinson’s advice and dwell in possibility which is the exact opposite of dwelling in the impossible. Regrets will make you feel as if nothing will change, situations are hopeless and that you’ll remain stuck forever.

Possibility however, will give you renewed energy and hope and will help you see that things can and will change if you allow them. Give yourself permission to dwell in possibility and to see that your past (and present) don’t define you and never did. Consider the fact that every decision you’ve made up to this point was the right one for you at the time and each decision contributes to your beautiful future if you allow it to.

Contemplate all the beautiful ways your life can change if you would only allow it to. Grant yourself permission to have a different, more positive-filled life – because you truly deserve it.

Contemplate these steps and notice that as you move beyond any regrets, you’ll begin to experience more purposeful, positive thoughts and experiences – all because you allowed them!