The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward

While serving in the US Army, Jeff Bosley got a “No Regrets” tattoo … and later regretted his decision. When his marriage of 12 years ended, Bosley realized he had plenty of regrets, such as not taking college seriously, hurting his wife by filing for divorce, and not pursuing his dream of acting. He is now living in Southern California and making a living as an actor. He is in the process of removing his “No Regrets” tattoo and acknowledges the irony of it.

Pink again discusses how regrets can be used to become “better, more satisfied people” (160). One should first distinguish between regrets of action and regrets of inaction. People may be able to undo some action regrets by making amends, reversing choices, or erasing consequences; they can “at least” action regrets to make themselves feel better. In contrast, many inaction regrets are difficult to undo. However, this type of regret can serve as a reminder to behave differently in the future or view the present in a different light. For example, while people may regret marriage to a previous spouse, they still value the children born from that marriage.