Regrets. We all have them. I regret not getting into recovery sooner. That’s just one regret. But what is life’s greatest regret?
Research shows that regrets fall into two broad categories:
- Action – We regret things we’ve done.
- Inaction – We regret things we haven’t done.
An extensive study by Roese & Summerville (2005) found that the biggest regrets, those which persist for years, are regrets from inaction – things we have not done.
Translation: As bad as your regrets are for the things you have done (porn, masturbation, affairs, etc.), failure to take the steps of recovery will haunt you even more.
The Berkely Well-Being Institute concludes, “Regret is a common emotion that occurs when our behavior results in undesirable outcomes. We are best served by using our regrets to change and live the lives we really desire.”
Recovery Step: Take the steps to recovery. Live the life you really desire. Why? The Bible says, “Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to a life without regret” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
