Regret

Regret is a strong feeling that we dislike experiencing, usually because it frequently comes along with shame for having done something we feel we shouldn’t have—or not done something we feel that we should. But regret can be a powerful force for internal change: if we confront it and work to figure out what made us behave in a way we don’t like, we can prevent ourselves from doing it again in the future. It also helps us choose accountability, which is the first step in authentically repairing relationships we may have damaged with our words or actions. Reconciling our desired self-image with reality can be a difficult, painful process, but it can help us live a life freer from anxiety and self-doubt.