Intro

Before we get too far into the new year, let’s remember that part of looking ahead and making New Year’s Resolutions includes looking backwards at the year or years behind and dealing with “regrets.”  Regrets can come in many forms but for this blog, regrets are disappointments that we experience as a result of conscious decisions we either made, or did not make, and which did not turn out the way we thought they would. One way to think about it is that regret is hope in the rear view mirror.  Before the decision I had hope that it would work out well. After the decision, I can see that it did not!

My Thoughts

If we take a minute to look ahead to the end of 2024, it’s a pretty sure bet that no one is hoping that they end 2024 regretting most of the decisions he or she makes this year. Or even a small percentage of those decisions!  And yet we all experience regret due to our decisions.  Are there hints and strategies that could help us experience fewer regrets not only this year, but also in the future?  Here is one that can be helpful and it starts with a kind of a proverb:

“Every regret started as a good idea.”

Conclusion

We don’t make regretful decisions on purpose!  It is only when we experience the results that we discover that what seemed like a good idea really wasn’t!  How are we to know?  Here are some thoughts you might apply:

• The quicker the decision is made, the more likely the decision will be one you regret.  This is especially true of important decisions.  Take time with decisions that matter. No one gets them all right, but you will get more right if you give yourself time to think through the implications of each decision.

• A contributing factor to impulsive, quick decision making is the level of emotion involved.  Emotions are fantastic things and we wouldn’t make any decisions at all without them.  But strong emotions can cloud our rational thinking and lead to decisions that our rational mind wouldn’t make and which our rational mind will regret later!

• Related to both is being self-aware so that you know what areas are most emotional for you.  For some people, it is relationships - actually probably for all people!  Do you know people who started a dating relationship that they later regretted? Usually, the signs were there but the emotions of attraction and being noticed overwhelmed the signs.  Other areas can involve use of drugs and alcohol, following the crowd due to FOMO, distracting habits that keep a person from responsibility (think doom scrolling rather than doing your homework), and how you handle money. Know which ones are most emotional for you and really take your time with those decisions.

Just because an idea seems good at the moment, does not mean that it is a good idea. With intention and practice, you can learn to better assess your decisions and have fewer regrets.