I need another 50 years to get it right, to learn from all my mistakes and to quit being annoyed with the major mistakes I’ve made. But realistically that isn’t going to happen. So, I set off to learn how to let go of regrets of things I didn’t do or did poorly, and at the same time launch the rest of my life into high gear.
Here’s what I learned. Name what you regret, cry about it or go for a run or do something. It’s often necessary to name it in order to tame it. Name what you regret, and with productive regret learn what didn’t work and how you can now make smarter decisions, help others make better decisions, and get on with your life.
At the same time please practice self-compassion, tell yourself you’re forgiven. Regardless of what you did or didn’t do, staying in the regret mode will get you nowhere, but actively getting past that mode to taking action is enormous, and gives you a running start to effective outcomes. As an example, one of the most powerful motivators is purpose. When you can turn regret into future purpose, you’ve got a great formula for success. And add gratitude for what you’ve learned, and growth inevitably happens.
