Psychology
fromHarvard Gazette
13 hours agoBreaking the regret cycle - Harvard Gazette
Regret can be transformed into growth by reframing it, extracting useful lessons, and making peace with past actions or inactions.
We separated soon after she was born, and I was sad and miserable. I had this idea of what my family was going to look like with the big house and white picket fence and now it seemed impossible. I was pretty selfish during that phase, prioritizing myself and numbing myself with alcohol. I couch-surfed with friends. It wasn't as if I was a bad dad, but I wasn't stepping up in the way that I needed to.
My sister looked at me and said, 'Now you're the last strong one in this family.' It was comforting to hear her words. I felt proud. And then, almost immediately, something else. My stomach clenched. I just wanted to stop the elevator, run away, and never look back.
After forty years of being 'the electrician' or 'the guy who fixes things,' many retirees find themselves sitting in silence, unsure of who they are beyond their job titles. This disconnect can be jarring, as they realize they have not taken the time to know themselves.
It's just funny what your head can do for you. Most of everything, I think, plays out in your head. You know, I wish I told myself as a younger woman, you're a lot more capable than you think you are. But it took years to really learn that.
I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend.