Cut yourself some slack to move on from regrets

What’s your biggest regret?  Whatever the circumstance, a study from the University of California Berkeley revealed that journaling and reflecting on regrets from a place of self-compassion could make a person more motivated to move on from them and not make the same mistake twice.

In a nutshell, self-compassion allows people to cut themselves some slack for whatever mistakes they’ve made. Affirming those feelings in writing provides further encouragement to embrace regrets rather than trying to mentally hide from them, according to researchers.

See for yourself

Want to give it a try? You don’t need to be part of a research study, just follow the Self-Compassion Letter method. Write down something you regret, how it happened, and how you can cope with and improve upon the situation. Once you’ve finished, put the letter away and come back to it whenever the feeling of regret starts to creep back into your mind.

Understand that regret is unavoidable

No matter how much you try to prepare, there are inevitably going to be times when you do something you regret. Acknowledging that these moments will happen can provide greater freedom to take risks and feel less anxious about making the wrong choice. On a similar note, remind yourself that very few things in life are permanent. Even if you do make a bad decision or action, the effects are unlikely to last forever.

Know your weaknesses

Understanding your vulnerabilities will help you exercise more control when situations arise that require difficult decisions to be made. You can make the best choice and be less likely to regret your decision after the fact. For example, are you the type of person who tends to make bad decisions after having a few drinks? If so, take steps to avoid putting yourself in those situations whenever possible.