“Missed educational opportunities”
“Failure to seize the moment”
“Not spending enough time with friends and relatives”
These are among the most common regrets people have when reflecting on their lives, according to a study by Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University.
His survey asked, “What would you say you regret more, those things that you did but wish you hadn’t, or those things that you didn’t do but wish you had?” The results revealed that failures to act leave greater sense of regret than regrettable actions. People tend to idealize opportunities they never pursued, assuming that had they taken action, their lives would have turned out better than their present circumstances. This is why unfulfilled possibilities weigh more heavily on the mind.
As humans, we are bound to make mistakes and experience regret time and time again. Yet, there is a way to regret less. Professor Gilovich offers a simple yet profound piece of advice:
“Don’t wait around for inspiration, just plunge in.”
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