Regret: A Wasted Emotion

Jan 2, 2012, Written by Sue Miley

As we drive up the mountain, free to stop at any spectacular view, and linger a moment longer as we please, my sister says, “ we could have driven ourselves this morning and not gone on the tour.  We didn’t need tour to find Jordan’s Pond, we already have reservations there tomorrow.”

“Yeah, but the tour bus driver (Roger) was nice and funny.  Besides I would have never known that a lobster lays over 100,000 eggs at a time.” (me)

“That’s true.  We wouldn’t have known that.” (sister)

We had a great time on the tour.  It was only a couple of hours, but my sister was already regretting her decision.

As we passed other places to stay, she commented how we could have stayed at this place or that place.

“I thought you liked where we are staying.” I said.

“I do, but you could have had your view of the water off the balcony.  It probably wouldn’t have cost more.  Are you sad?”

Why would I be sad.  Why waste emotion on something that is a past decision.  We are here and happy and having fun.

She thought that was completely too balanced and healthy of a philosophy.

Really though.  If I made a decision that cost lives or seriously hurt someone, I may not be able to fight off feelings of regret.  They would be a mirror of my conscience.

But too often we spend countless of life’s precious moments regretting what we ate, something we bought, something we did or didn’t do.

If it is in the past, you can’t change it, and if it has no lasting eternal consequence…..let it go.

Live in the moment.

Enjoy life.

Regret truly is a wasted emotion.

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Sue Miley

Sue Miley MBA, MA, LPC helps small business owners build successful businesses on a foundation of Christian values. After 20 years in business, and 10 years as a Christian counselor, Sue uses a combination of faith, business and psychology to help clients in business and in life.

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