Regret — how to use it to your advantage.

“Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, “It might have been.”
― Kurt Vonnegut

Regret is perhaps one of the most debilitating of our emotions.

It can eat us alive and occupy all of our brain space, rendering it difficult for us to fully focus on anything else for hours and sometimes days on end.

This is especially true when there’s nothing we can do to undo what’s been done (or not done as is often the case).

Perhaps we wanted to say ‘hi’ to that hot girl or guy but didn’t. We’ll probably never cross paths again.

Perhaps we wanted to pitch an investor we saw at the airport lounge but didn’t. We might never have that unique opportunity again.

Perhaps we said some things we shouldn’t have to someone we value, and our relationship might now be in disrepair.

Using regret as fuel might not be enough

Now, you’ve probably already heard people say that you should use that much-maligned feeling of regret as fuel.

You don't want to feel that debilitating feeling again, do you?

So next time you see that hot person, investor, and so forth, you will act differently.

And this works…to a degree.

I’ve used it with great effect many times, but sometimes it falls short.