Why Regret is Universal and Healthy

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Regret is not dangerous or abnormal. It is healthy and universal, an integral part of being human. In one study, regret was the second most common emotion expressed, trailing only love. 99% of people admitted that they experience this emotion occasionally. Regret is a universal human experience. The only people who don't have regrets are 5-year-olds, people with brain damage and neurodegenerative disorders, and sociopaths. The inability to feel regret isn't a sign of psychological health. It's the sign of a grave disorder.

It’s popular to claim you have no regrets. Popular, but perilous. Because regrets aren’t anything to be ashamed of — on the contrary, they’re an integral part of being human. When you deny their existence, you deny yourself the opportunity to look back on your missteps so you can chart a better path forward.

This week on the show: Next Big Idea Club curator Daniel Pink shares five key insights from his latest bestseller, “The Power of Regret.” In these episodes, you’ll learn how to use your regrets to make better decisions, improve your performance at work, and bring more meaning into your life.