Regret is a self-imposed sentencing.

Once it has firmly secured itself in our psyche, regret is a noxious weed that is very difficult to eradicate.

To hold on to regret is to forever doubt one self.

Life comes at us faster than the speed of light; it is a rapid, moment-by-moment-out-of-control-explosion, in an ever expanding Unknown. At each juncture of choice, we do the very best we can do. To look back with regret at any of the choices we’ve made, is to forever sentence ourselves to a life of distrust, fear, and insecurity.

Allowing regret to arise as we deal with consequences that have risen after choices we have made is a natural and normal part of life. But what if we started to just allow that to pass through our experience, like everything else? What if we allowed regret to come and go, rather than cling to it and label ourselves ‘failure’?

What if we stood on our own side, and offered support, instead of belittling and shaming ourselves?

What if we saw our choices for what they are: the best option we felt we had at the time, and then began to celebrate our innate security in trusting ourselves?

What if we started to transform our regret about a situation, or a choice in our past, into openness toward what life has to offer?

What if instead of doubting our ability to choose well, we started to affirm the truest nature of our heart moving toward what it wants?

Perhaps in the throes of depression and of crisis in our lives, there is an opening for rest, a space where we can close out the chaos and confusion and rest in simple clarity that everything is as it ought to be, and we are doing the best we can with what we have.

We continue to do the best we can, and the good news is, we’ve made it this far!

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Editor: Bryonie Wise

Photo: elephant archives