I’m in my mid-forties now, and you can’t live that long without making a few mistakes. Poor choices of words in a delicate situation, making a wrong career move, and bad money decisions early in my married life are just a few things I look back on with a cringe. Here are 3 ways I have used to get past regret in my life.
Realize that you are normal
If you hold yourself to a standard of unattainable perfection, you can live with guilt and anxiety your entire life. I once worked with someone who made a significant error on the monthly financial reports. She was a great employee, and had never made a mistake worth mentioning in the time she worked with me. She alerted me to the mistake, we fixed it, and moved on. There were no consequences, and there was no need for any discipline. But, she couldn’t let it go, and ended up crying in her office the rest of the day. Everyone is going to makes mistakes from time to time. Which leads me to the next point –
Don’t let your past mistakes define you
I’ve heard it said that everyone is a product of their decisions made up to today, and I believe that to be largely true. I would add, however, that how we deal with the consequences from those decisions reveals our character and makeup. Every personality type deals with mistakes differently. You may be inclined to blow them off, or you may internalize them. Internalizing guilt and shame can even lead to physical issues. Mistakes are going to be a part of your past, but don’t make them who you are. Learn what you need to from them and move on.
Always look 5 to 10 years into the future
One of the best pieces of advice I have been given, and one I give out regularly, is to make every decision with a view of 5 to 10 years into the future. If you want to save more money, change your career, or finally lose that weight, seeing how that decision impacts your life down the road can really add motivation, and make any mistakes seem small and recoverable.
Seeing ways that we can move past regret for past mistakes or poor decisions can help you make better choices in the future, and be a happier, more productive person. How do you get past prior mistakes? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to share!
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