We all have regrets.
A word spoken in anger.
An ill-advised decision.
Good deeds left undone.
There are probably some right now which immediately come to your mind. I have a few of my own. I would like to go back in time and erase them if I could . They may be in the past but they aren’t forgotten are they?
Regrets are a powerful force in your life. They can keep you from being the person you were meant to be. They can be emotionally paralyzing. Regrets can haunt you. Especially when you are experiencing success or happiness in your life. These ghosts of regrets return to remind you of your failures and shortcomings.
And if you don’t think of them, there is always someone who will. Know some of those people?
Since we all have regrets, how can we manage them so they won’t hold us back?
The first -- and most important thing -- is that we have to like ourselves. A poor self esteem will keep us chained to our regrets. When you realize that you have regrets you have to also realize that those regrets don’t define who you are. Regrets are your life’s learning experiences. We have to focus on the positive parts of who we are.
Another important part of living with regrets is to stay away from people who repeatedly remind you of them. If they can’t give you the benefit of the doubt then they don’t need to be in your life.
The only way you can truly live with the regrets in your life is to forgive yourself. If God forgives, then why do we think we are better than God that we can’t forgive ourselves? I am reminded of the Apostle Paul who wrote that there is no longer any condemnation for those who believe in Christ. (Romans 8:1) That's a pretty strong assurance to us about any regrets we have. Paul also encouraged us to let go of things that are behind us and press forward to what is ahead (Philippians 3:13-14) Whether you are a believer or not, this is some good advice for us all when living with the regrets that we have.
A word spoken in anger.
An ill-advised decision.
Good deeds left undone.
There are probably some right now which immediately come to your mind. I have a few of my own. I would like to go back in time and erase them if I could . They may be in the past but they aren’t forgotten are they?
Regrets are a powerful force in your life. They can keep you from being the person you were meant to be. They can be emotionally paralyzing. Regrets can haunt you. Especially when you are experiencing success or happiness in your life. These ghosts of regrets return to remind you of your failures and shortcomings.
And if you don’t think of them, there is always someone who will. Know some of those people?
Since we all have regrets, how can we manage them so they won’t hold us back?
The first -- and most important thing -- is that we have to like ourselves. A poor self esteem will keep us chained to our regrets. When you realize that you have regrets you have to also realize that those regrets don’t define who you are. Regrets are your life’s learning experiences. We have to focus on the positive parts of who we are.
Another important part of living with regrets is to stay away from people who repeatedly remind you of them. If they can’t give you the benefit of the doubt then they don’t need to be in your life.
The only way you can truly live with the regrets in your life is to forgive yourself. If God forgives, then why do we think we are better than God that we can’t forgive ourselves? I am reminded of the Apostle Paul who wrote that there is no longer any condemnation for those who believe in Christ. (Romans 8:1) That's a pretty strong assurance to us about any regrets we have. Paul also encouraged us to let go of things that are behind us and press forward to what is ahead (Philippians 3:13-14) Whether you are a believer or not, this is some good advice for us all when living with the regrets that we have.
Unfortunately we can't wipe our memories of our regrets. They happened. That's the reality but we can learn to live with them while not letting them get in the way of our lives. Acknowledging and accepting what you are feeling is essential. When you accept yourself and what you are feeling, you are able to recognize that your value isn't defined by your mistakes or failures. Accepting yourself and your feelings does not mean you don't want to change things or do better. It just means that you are able to recognize that you are always learning, changing, and growing.
