Daniel Pink, best-selling author of "The Power of Regret," discusses how regret shapes our decisions and can lead to personal growth. Sharon Salzberg, a renowned Buddhist teacher, shares insights on mindfulness and self-compassion as tools for moving beyond regret. Together, they explore regret's dual nature—how it can teach us valuable lessons while also being painful. They emphasize the importance of acknowledging our feelings and offer practical techniques, including a guided meditation, to help listeners embrace new beginnings.
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insights INSIGHT
Regret's Power
Regret is often viewed negatively, especially in American culture, encouraging a "no regrets" mindset.
However, regret is a powerful emotion that can fuel personal growth when handled correctly.
insights INSIGHT
Regret's Complexity
Regret involves looking back on past decisions and feeling bad, believing the present would be different if we'd chosen differently.
This "time travel" aspect adds cognitive complexity to regret.
insights INSIGHT
Counterfactual Thinking
Counterfactuals, or ways of framing regrets, come in two types: "at leasts" and "if onlys."
"At leasts" focus on the upside of a regret, while "if onlys" explore alternative scenarios, leading to more negative feelings.
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In The Power of Regret, Daniel H. Pink delves into the psychology of regret, drawing on extensive research in social psychology, neuroscience, economics, and biology. He debunks the myth of the 'no regrets' philosophy and argues that regret is a fundamental and valuable emotion. Pink identifies four core categories of regret: foundation regrets, boldness regrets, moral regrets, and connection regrets. These categories serve as a 'photographic negative' of the good life, revealing what people value most. The book provides a three-step process for transforming regrets into positive forces for personal growth and better decision-making. Pink's work is based on his World Regret Survey, which collected regrets from over 16,000 people in 105 countries, offering practical guidance on how to thrive beyond mistakes and turn regrets into learning opportunities.
Regret can be a double-edged sword. It can be painful, and enduring, but we can also learn important lessons from it - IF we treat it right. Most religions speak of forgiveness and compassion, not only toward others but also toward oneself. Still, letting go can be difficult to do at times. So how do we learn from regret and start anew?
Dave speaks with best selling author Daniel Pink, and renowned Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg to learn about the science of regret and how some spiritual wisdom and practices can help us move beyond it and begin again.
Daniel Pink is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. Learn more about his work, and where to purchase his books, on his website.
Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. Learn more about her teachings, and find her other media appearances and books, on her website.
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