6 Keys to Letting Go of Regret & Find Hope

How to let go of regret?

Letting go of regret can be a long and difficult process. However, it is so worth the work! There is hope on the other side of regret!

Acknowledge the regret. Most of us have developed the habit of stuffing our feelings down from childhood. We think this will make us feel better when in truth, it makes us ill. It can be detrimental to our physical, mental, and spiritual health.

The fact that you are reading this is an excellent step in acknowledging your regret and the need to let go of it. As you go through this article, I will keep it simple – yet, we all know letting go of regret is in no way easy.

First, let’s accept the reality of the situation. Check that you understand what happened as others do. In other words, is your view possibly skewed? Are you taking responsibility for something you don’t need to?

Talk to someone who knows what happened and can give you an unbiased opinion. Be ready to get honest with yourself.

Second, consider if you have apologized, repented, or otherwise tried to bring healing into your regretful situation.

Next, and truly, this is the most healing aspect in learning to let go of regret; make amends. Whether the person affected by the problem is present to benefit from your amends or not, this is a big step.

In my case, my loved one has passed on – how can I possibly make amends to her? Simply, by bringing goodness into the regretful subject.

Whether it is through writing a book with an opposite perspective of the one you now regret or starting a foundation to fight for the cause, you will find meaning and relief in taking this step.

What does regret do to a person?
Letting go of regret is imperative for our mental, emotional and spiritual health.

Regret eats away at our soul and can even cause health issues. Depression, addiction, and lack of hope are all results of not letting go of regret.

The guilt and shame that often accompany regret cause anxiety and can get in the way of healthy relationships.

Moreover, when our regrets are not dealt with we will often make poor choices in our daily lives.

How do I stop regretting the past?
Face it. Acknowledge it. Accept it.
Make genuine apologies, and let the injured parties know your contrition.
Begin the road to making amends.
Live today as you wish you would have in the past.
How do I get rid of my guilt and regret?
A key to letting go of remorse includes overcoming the consequences you have suffered over what you now regret. Often rejection is a consequence of our errors and missteps.

Overcoming that rejection is vital to being able to let go of our self-blame.

The guilt we feel over our regrets can leave us broken and frozen, with no hope of moving forward in life.

Talking with a therapist or trusted friend can help. Journalling is a powerful tool for learning to get rid of our guilt and relief of our remorsefulness.

Being honest with yourself and others helps allay guilt also. It takes less emotional strength to embrace the truth than it does to bury it.

The past is just that, and we need to leave it there. Apologize, make amends and let go of obsessively thinking about your shame and remorse.

Why does regret hurt so much?
Love. Love for others and the desire to love oneself. Regret creates self-hate, yet we desire to be at peace with ourselves. And others.

This is good news that love is the culprit! Perhaps we are not as bad off as we thought we were!

The elements of pangs of conscience that cause us pain include self-blame, depression, and a lack of hope. Often, we internalize our shame and choose not to deal with our regret and guilt. This needs to come to an end!

Six Keys: How to Let Go of Regret
Acknowledge your regret.
Accept the guilt if needed.
Take responsibility.
Apologize.
Make amends.
Choose to shower grace on yourself.
In conclusion, let us move forward and live life for today, learning from the past. May our shame, guilt, and deep regrets be used to grow us.

Live life in the moment, using our past self-condemnation to guide us towards better!