TONL Monthly

If only I had …? What if …? Have you said these words to yourself? If so, it is likely you have experienced “regret” and wished for a better outcome.

 

In cultures around the world, recognition of regret summons unpleasant emotions. A number of individuals have adopted a mantra of “no regrets,” tattooing the phrase on noticeable body parts as a reminder and an anthem of personal praise. In the US, leaders and pop icons communicate anti-regret values daily. Angelina Jolie, Bob Dylan and John Travolta, simply state, “I don’t believe in regrets.” Norman Vincent Peale, America’s positive thinking pioneer, urged mentees to leave no room for regrets. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg insisted that time not “be wasted” on regrets (Pink, 2022).