We’ve all got regrets about missed career opportunities or things we wished we’d done or said. That’s normal. Rather than trying to quash the feeling, you’ve got to make peace with it.
Start by recognizing your emotions and expressing them — even if only to yourself. What past action or inaction is causing you to feel this way? You may even consider grabbing a pen and paper and writing out what exactly you’re feeling and why.
Next, try looking to the past with gratitude. Jot down three things you’re grateful for to counterbalance the negativity of regret and reframe your outlook. You want to be aware of what you have, not just what you don’t have.
Finally, make regret productive by thinking about what you can (and cannot) do in the future to avoid this feeling again. It may be that the situation was out of your control and there’s little you can do, but if you made a mistake or misstep, use this feeling to change your behavior the next time around.
Make it a great day!