- Creedence Clearwater Revival (Proud Mary)
Regret is the act of passing judgement on a past action. But just as you should forgive others, you need to forgive yourself. Hindsight is always 20/20.
Of course, the paradox is that it is what you learned from the past action that is now making you regret it. Mistakes are how we learn. You have to touch a flame to learn it is hot. But you can't go through life wishing you had never touched it.
The problem with regret is that it keeps you focused on the past, which isn't real anyway. When you find yourself looking back in regret, catch yourself. Stop. Take a deep breath. And ask yourself if there is anything you can do in the present moment to correct your past action. If there is, do it. If there isn't, let it go.
As hard as it may be, you have to surrender control. Remind yourself constantly: Everything is as it should be. What's done is done.
Don't spend so much of your life looking backwards that you can't take advantage of every single PRESENT moment you have.
The world is sacred. It can't be improved.
If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it.
If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it. (v. 29)
