The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward

Daniel H. Pink is an American author of seven books, five of which are New York Times bestsellers. His books have sold millions of copies around the world, been translated into 42 languages, and won multiple awards. As a successful writer, researcher, and speaker, Pink shares insights about success in areas such as behavior, business, career, creativity, and lifestyle.

Pink recognizes regret as a pervasive human emotion that causes despair and precludes people from living a fulfilling life. He conducted the American Regret Project, the largest and most representative American survey on regret ever attempted. Through the survey, Pink polled 4,489 adults whose “gender, age, race, marital status, geography, income, and education level reflected the composition of the entire U.S. population” (68). Through this survey, he achieved a better understanding of regret and compiled the results into The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. Pink determined four core regrets (foundation, boldness, moral, and connection regrets) and concluded that each corresponds to a human need. In recognizing that regrets reveal our needs and values, Pink points out that acknowledging and considering our regrets can help us cultivate a better, more fulfilling life.