Can do Quote by Kathryn Schulz
“If we have goals and dreams and we want to do our best, and if we love people and we don’t want to hurt them or lose them, we should feel pain when things go wrong. The point isn’t to live without any regrets, the point is to not hate ourselves for having them… We need to learn to love the flawed, imperfect things that we create, and to forgive ourselves for creating them. Regret doesn’t remind us that we did badly — it reminds us that we know we can do better.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Gift of Regret” in The New Yorker, 2014
Regret signals growth; it shows we care, learn, and can improve, not that we failed.
In simple terms: Regret is a sign we can do better, not a flaw.
Key Takeaway
Embrace regret as a catalyst for self‑compassion and improvement.
Themes
psychology
self‑growth
emotions
compassion
Mood
thoughtful
hopeful
Type
self‑help
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal journaling
- therapy sessions
- creative projects
- team debriefs
Key Concepts
Regret as feedback
self‑forgiveness
imperfection acceptance
Questions to Reflect On
- What does your most recent regret teach you?
- How can you turn regret into actionable change?
A Different Perspective
Regret may become rumination if not reframed constructively.
