Life offers us many choices and paths as we direct through it. Stuck in uncertain circumstances, we consider making decisions that seem right to us. It isn’t surprising that people sometimes feel regret over both, the decisions they made and the ones they didn’t. 

Regret can be an incredibly painful emotion. Filled with feelings of sorrow, disappointment, and guilt for things that have happened in the past, such feelings can have a powerful influence on our lives. While we’re feeling regret over our past choices and mistakes, we sometimes miss out on celebrating the joys of the existing moment.

The reason why regret feels so harsh is because it implies that there is something you could have done, some choice you could have made, some action you might have taken that would have made something good happen or avoided something bad.

Regret is a difficult thing to feel, but some experts suggest that it can also have a positive impact if you handle it well and allow it to help you learn lessons and make better choices ahead.

Regret can have a huge impact on your body and mind both physically and emotionally. Feelings of regret can often lead to physical problems such as muscle tension, sleep disturbances, changes in eating habits, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, and mental stress. 

Constantly overthinking past regrets can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and feelings of hopelessness.

While you can’t avoid regrets, there are things that you can do to minimize these feelings or take the negativity out of them to turn your regrets into opportunities for growth and change.

• Accept yourself and your feelings. It helps you in accepting that your worth isn’t defined by your mistakes or failures.
• Forgive yourself! It aids you in getting rid of the feelings of guilt, disappointment, and all the other negative emotions associated with regret.
• Take Action! One good way to get free from the feelings of regret is to use those experiences to direct future actions and make the best out of them.

While regret is an unavoidable consequence of life and making decisions, we can find ways to cope up with these feelings and turn them into opportunities for future growth.