I used to be that person who said I’d never live my life with regrets. That everything I did or didn’t do was for a reason. Recently I realized I couldn’t live up to my own hype.
Regrets
They exist. Regrets happen. The things you wish you would’ve done, wonder why you ever did and still ask how you did. We all think on them at some point. It wasn’t until I got past the age of trying to act like I had it all together. The age when I understood perfection probably wasn’t something I’d check off my To Do List.
I started to understand – I have regrets. Things, goals and dreams I wish I accomplished, but didn’t. Places I wish I’d been. People I wish I’d loved more. Yet here’s the thing about regrets. They can be both negative and positive.
The Negative
The negative side comes when you allow yourself to be stuck in the ‘what if’ of things. You dwell in what could have been and in turn miss out on what can be.
Those are the regrets I will still strive to avoid. The ones that make you stagnant. That leave you in a place where you are stuck moving neither forward or upward.
The Positive
The positive side of regret is when the lack of results pushes you towards change towards growth. Change brings new goals dreams and ambitions. You begin to grow from the person you were and move towards the person you need to be.
Don’t give regrets the power to steal your present. Instead turn them into the fuel for making your future different.
My Regrets
Now that I’ve come to a point where I know my regrets are no longer something I need to deny I have the freedom to admit a few things I regret:
- Missing out on a true college experience
- Never joining a Sorority
- Not making 40 under 40
- Attending ministry school
- Traveling the world (using my passport)
The thing about regrets is they don’t need to be something that makes you sad or feel like you’re less of a person. I choose to take my regrets and use them as the motivation I need to make new goals.
My Goals
- Go back to school
- Continue to grow the community of friends around me who support, encourage and uplift me and my dreams.
- Make 40 the best year of my life – personally and professionally
- Attend Ministry school
- Travel the world
Here’s what I’ve learned: regrets do not need to remain regrets. You can change them into goals you still have time to work towards.
How can you use regrets to motivate you today?
“Believe in yourself, your passions, and your dreams. Your voice is unique - build on that. Embrace what is different about you and make it your greatest asset!”
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4 thoughts on “The Thing About Regrets.”
I have very few regrets, but one is not having the college experience. College is so much more than a diploma.
I can share that regret as well. I was pregnant during my first semester and then focused on making things work. I always wanted to join a sorority.
I have gone through a period where I regreted everything. Almost feeling like a failure at time. But I had to understand my choices have shaped me into the woman I am now. The feeling of regret still comes and goes but I just pray about it and focus on my goals I have now.
I’m so glad you found your way out of those times. The fact that you push through situations means you’re trying and the one thing that can beat failure is to keep trying. I’m sure you will achieve all your goals!