A good chef can sometimes spoil a dish by adding an ingredient that was undesirable. It takes away from the taste of the other ingredients that may have been put in right measure. When removed, the taste completely changes. We too experience life very differently when we remove the ingredient of regret.

When we understand the three aspects of regret, we realise how necessary it becomes to overcome it and move on.

Regret is always of the past. Living in the past robs us of being fully present in the here and now to experience and enjoy life in its entirety. And in future, we may regret the fact that we missed out on enjoying some moments. If we are not careful, the cycle of regret can become perpetual.

It is an emotion attached to an event of the past. The event may be long dead and gone, but we continue holding on to the emotion. On reflecting we will realise it is not the regret we need to hold on to, but our learning, insights and the commitment to move on in life.

It often comes with guilt and anger. We tend to hold ourselves responsible. It is true we could have behaved and decided differently. What we don’t realise is the strong negative impact it is having on us currently, compromising our ability to give our best.

No one makes all the right decisions all the time. Temptations, challenges and success test us. When we make our mistakes, we need to find the honestly of acceptance and strength of character to rise with every fall. We can only rise up when we let go of the regret that is holding is down.

We know all the ingredients that make for a good life. There is no reason we cannot cook up a great life for ourselves, no matter how big or small. Some ingredients can spoil an otherwise wonderful life. Removing the ingredient of regret is something we will never regret.

(Picture-Crail, Scotland)