The key here is that regret is our, i think, arguably one of our most transformative emotions, if we know how to enlist it. And the trouble is, the motion has been kind of demonized, and we haven't had the guidance that we need to enlist it as a positive force. The study shows scientists who narrowly won a big prize went on to have more successful careers than those who won.
“Embedded in songs, emblazoned on skin, and embraced by sages, the anti-regret philosophy is so self-evidently true that it’s more often asserted than argued.” So writes Daniel Pink in his new book, “The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward.” There’s just one problem, he adds. The “no regrets” philosophy? It’s hogwash. Regrets may churn our stomachs, but they also improve our decisions and strengthen our values. They’re a photographic negative of the good life.
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