Why Regret Can Prevent Us From Moving Forward
Regret is a complex emotion that we all experience at some point in our lives. It arises when we feel remorse or sorrow over past actions or decisions. However, dwelling on regret can hinder our ability to move forward and our overall sense of wellbeing and personal growth. The paralysing effect of regret The Guardian spoke to cognitive behaviour therapist, Windy Dryden, who says that “when we are trapped in this cycle of regret, characterised by rigidity and inflexibility, we only seem able to blame ourselves for what has happened, rather than seeing our behaviour in a wider context and understanding why we took the path we did based on the information we had at the time. Under these conditions, regret will become toxic.” The weight of the past Regret has the power to hold us captive in the past. When we become consumed by thoughts of what could have been, we lose sight of the present moment and our potential for progress. Constantly replaying past mistakes or choices prevents u...