How To Overcome Regret

Try these tactics for moving on and getting over.

Regrets! We’ve all had a few. In researching how to get over regret, we found three excellent examples of people who did so in such thoughtful, meaningful ways. And there are some general tactics, should you find yourself mired in remorse:

1. OWN UP TO IT
Accept your responsibility in the negative experience.

2. MOVE ON
Let go of what you cannot and could not control.

3. APOLOGIZE
If you hurt another person—whether intentionally or inadvertently—apologize, mend bridges, or otherwise express how you feel. Then let it go.

4. FREE YOURSELF
Decide that you deserve to be free from the negative feelings surrounding the episode.

5. LEARN FROM IT
Seek to identify the lessons inherent in the experience.

6. SAY THANKS
Express gratitude for the experience, as it can and will bring insight, if you allow it.