---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Three enemies of personal peace: regret…"
description: "\"Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday’s mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow’s problems, and ingratitude for today’s blessings.\" — William ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/william-arthur-ward-2681_anxiety_three-enemies-of-personal-peace-regret-o_2056978.png"
---

#  Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday’s…

![“Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday’s mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow’s problems, and ingratitude for today’s blessings.” quote by William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/william-arthur-ward-2681_anxiety_three-enemies-of-personal-peace-regret-o_2056978.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/william-arthur-ward-2681_anxiety_three-enemies-of-personal-peace-regret-o_2056978.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/william-arthur-ward-2681_anxiety_three-enemies-of-personal-peace-regret-o_2056978.png)

> “Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday’s mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow’s problems, and ingratitude for today’s blessings.”

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Three obstacles to inner peace are dwelling on past errors, worrying about future issues, and failing to appreciate present blessings.

**In simple terms:** Regret, anxiety, and ingratitude block peace.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate gratitude and present‑moment focus.

Themes

inner peace gratitude mindfulness

Mood

hopeful calm inspirational

Type

advice motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily meditation
- journaling
- stress management
- gratitude practice

Key Concepts

psychology spirituality emotional health

Questions to Reflect On

- What can you let go of today?
- How might gratitude change your outlook?

A Different Perspective

Ignoring these obstacles can lead to chronic dissatisfaction.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Ingratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingratitude/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Personal peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-peace/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/)

## Related quotes

> [My fear of making mistakes or my anxiety about being perceived less than serious or perfect was holding me back from being good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-kimes/my-fear-of-making-mistakes-or-my-anxiety-about-being-perceived-less/)

[Mina Kimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-kimes/)

> [“Doing what is right to GOD gives you peace not regret”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudzani-ralph/doing-what-is-right-to-god-gives-you-peace-not-regret/)

[Rudzani Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudzani-ralph/)

> [“You can have regret from yesterday, fear tomorrow, but peace today by sharing your heart’s deepest feelings. A life spent being fearful of showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-alder/you-can-have-regret-from-yesterday-fear-tomorrow-but-peace-today-by/)

[Shannon Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-alder/)

> [“I won't look back to regret yesterday, we're not handed tomorrow so I'll live for today”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/3-doors-down/i-won-t-look-back-to-regret-yesterday-we-re-not-handed-tomorrow-so-i/)

[3 Doors Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/3-doors-down/)

> [We crucify ourselves between two thieves: regret for yesterday and fear of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-oursler/we-crucify-ourselves-between-two-thieves-regret-for-yesterday-and/)

[Fulton Oursler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-oursler/)

> [Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves. Regret for yesterday and fear of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-oursler/many-of-us-crucify-ourselves-between-two-thieves-regret-for-yesterday/)

[Fulton Oursler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-oursler/)

> [So many of us either fear tomorrow or regret yesterday. Me? I wont fear tomorrow if Id get to be with you. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-many-of-us-either-fear-tomorrow-or-regret-yesterday-me-i-wont-fear/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Don't spoil this day By the REGRET OF YESTERDAY, And The FEAR OF TOMORROW. Just give the best And Leave the Rest ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/don-t-spoil-this-day-by-the-regret-of-yesterday-and-the-fear-of/)

Pacifiersucker

> [Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today and you make your tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/never-regret-yesterday-life-is-in-you-today-and-you-make-your-tomorrow/)

[L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/)

> [Do not allow the regret of yesterday bring the belief of today to a close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ky-vanchhay/do-not-allow-the-regret-of-yesterday-bring-the-belief-of-today-to-a/)

[Ky Vanchhay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ky-vanchhay/)

> [The only way you can regret yesterday is when you haven't learned anything from it.. Whatever you worry about is in the past, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-way-you-can-regret-yesterday-is-when-you-haven-t-learned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The deepest regret of yesterday can be made right by following the Savior today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/the-deepest-regret-of-yesterday-can-be-made-right-by-following-the/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [“Most people measure themselves against someone or something and then fight their inner doubts to believe they, too, have what it takes to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-bauman/most-people-measure-themselves-against-someone-or-something-and-then/)

Stephan Bauman

> [Coexistence and personal peace are at the heart of global peace and harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/widad-akrawi/coexistence-and-personal-peace-are-at-the-heart-of-global-peace-and/)

[Widad Akrawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/widad-akrawi/)

> [“The world is in a mad dash of personal peace and affluence. Sadly, too often the evangelical church is not much different. Of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr-2/the-world-is-in-a-mad-dash-of-personal-peace-and-affluence-sadly-too/)

[R.C. Sproul Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr-2/)

## More by William Arthur Ward

> [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [“If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/if-you-can-imagine-it-you-can-create-it-if-you-can-dream-it-you-can/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [A friend is one with whom you are comfortable, to whom you are loyal, through whom you are blessed, and for whom you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/a-friend-is-one-with-whom-you-are-comfortable-to-whom-you-are-loyal/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [We must be silent before we can listen. We must listen before we can learn. We must learn before we can prepare. We must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/we-must-be-silent-before-we-can-listen-we-must-listen-before-we-can/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [The greatest failure is the failure to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-greatest-failure-is-the-failure-to-try/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [Too many of us hear without heeding, read without responding, confess without changing, profess without practicing, worship without witnessing, and seek without sharing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/too-many-of-us-hear-without-heeding-read-without-responding-confess/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [“‎"Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/do-more-than-belong-participate-do-more-than-care-help-do-more-than/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [There is one thing we can do better than anyone else: we can be ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/there-is-one-thing-we-can-do-better-than-anyone-else-we-can-be/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [Enthusiasm is the match that lights the candle of achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/enthusiasm-is-the-match-that-lights-the-candle-of-achievement/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [Today's patience can transform yesterday's discouragements into tomorrow's discoveries. Today's purposes can turn yesterday's defeats into tomorrow's determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/today-s-patience-can-transform-yesterday-s-discouragements-into/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [A life lived without forgiveness is a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/a-life-lived-without-forgiveness-is-a-prison/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [Every person has the power to make others happy. Some do it simply by entering a room others by leaving the room. Some individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/every-person-has-the-power-to-make-others-happy-some-do-it-simply-by/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [Prepare while others are daydreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/prepare-while-others-are-daydreaming/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [Every day is a good day to examine our prime-time priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/every-day-is-a-good-day-to-examine-our-prime-time-priorities/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [Another fresh new year is here... Another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear, to love and laugh and give!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/another-fresh-new-year-is-here-another-year-to-live-to-banish-worry/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

[Explore all 155 William Arthur Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

## More Anxiety quotes

> [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/)

Nagisa Tatsumi

> [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/)

[Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/)

> [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/)

[Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/)

> [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/)

[Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/)

> [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/)

[Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/)

> [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/)

[Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/)

[Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/)

> [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/)

[Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/)

> [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

[Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday’s mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow’s problems, and ingratitude for today’s blessings.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Arthur Ward"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/three-enemies-of-personal-peace-regret-over-yesterday-s-mistakes/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anxiety"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/three-enemies-of-personal-peace-regret-over-yesterday-s-mistakes/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/william-arthur-ward-2681_anxiety_three-enemies-of-personal-peace-regret-o_2056978.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/william-arthur-ward-2681_anxiety_three-enemies-of-personal-peace-regret-o_2056978.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efa/william-arthur-ward-2681_anxiety_three-enemies-of-personal-peace-regret-o_2056978.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday’s mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow’s problems, and…” — William Arthur Ward",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "William Arthur Ward",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Three enemies of personal peace: regret...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/three-enemies-of-personal-peace-regret-over-yesterday-s-mistakes/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/three-enemies-of-personal-peace-regret-over-yesterday-s-mistakes/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
