Regrets can be one of the hardest things to overcome because they keep you focused on “What if” scenarios rather than reality. This presupposes of course that the “what if” is better than your reality, so in order to break out of regret, here’s what I generally have people do (and other coaches may have a different method for this, but this is what I have found to work for me personally and the people I work with:)
1. Analyze the incident that you keep thinking about. Write down in detail everything that you feel was good about that opportunity, and also all the reasons why you chose not to take it (be honest – that column should not be blank.)
2. Think about your life as it is now: what is it really like, and try to picture what it would be if you had taken the other thing (realistically – not “I’ll be president and landed on the moon by now” type of stuff.)
3. Now – look and see what the differences are that you’d want to have in your life, and which ones you wouldn’t.
Is it the job itself, or things that the job could give you that are causing your current feelings?
If it’s the “things”, try to picture what your life would be like in a year if you made some changes in just those areas.
If you can see a happier, regret-less you that way, then focus on future you instead of the past action, and then start finding a way to make that future become a reality.
Perhaps it is finding a different job that pays a little more money, or one that gives you the ability to grow in responsibility, or travel – whatever it is, focusing on the future is the way to dig you out of the past, and only you can determine what is holding you there.
Originally Posted: https://www.quora.com/There-was-a-good-job-opportunity-one-year-ago-but-I-gave-it-up-Now-I-feel-very-regretful-about-that-I-cannot-forget-it-and-do-not-believe-I-can-find-a-better-one-What-should-I-do
Originally Posted On: 2015-05-13