HIGHWAY TO THE GRAVE-TINNAH KIIO-09-0941

Have you ever found yourself saying, “I wish I could hold the tail of time, I wish I were given another chance, I wish I had never met him or her,” or, “I wish we never had a fight.”? If your answer is not affirmative I will not believe you. There are many things we regret having or having not done. The best thing is to seize the opportunity that we have made mistakes and rise to the occasion. I would rather regret what I have done, than what I haven’t. At times we spend too much time beating ourselves up for our past failures and gazing at lost opportunities that we are unable to get back. We therefore fail to note other opportunities that present themselves to us. The truth is, regrets leave you somewhere, but it is up to you to choose whether they will drag you behind or push you forward. Regrets are part of life and if you accept life, then, you must accept regrets. You should not let your past mistakes keep you from taking risks, being happy and losing enthusiasm in life. Here are some tips to help you handle regrets:-
1. FORGIVE YOURSELF
Imagine of a 50 year old who can not forgive himself for having cheated on his wife in his 30s or a Ph.D holder who still beats herself up for failing in her K.C.P.E. Every good thing starts with self-love and forgiveness. You should forgive yourself and anybody else who might have been involved in the situation that makes you regret. Forgiving yourself is a critical stage in healing in your life
2. LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES
There is a lesson to be learnt in every mistake. Instead of putting blames on yourself, ask yourself what good you can obtain from the mistake. It can be a blessing in disguise. If the thought of what you did comes into your mind, say, “I forgive myself.” This will help kill the anger inside you. If you hold yourself responsible for your own regrets, then avoid making the same choices in future.
3. REDIRECT YOUR FOCUS
The past is gone and will never come back. You need to understand that when one chance fails, another opens for you. Do not waste time dwelling on missed prospects. Holding on your past can be disastrous to your future. Joel Osteen once said you are likely to see something better ahead but you can not do so if you are constantly looking behind.
4. MAKE NEW GOALS
Once you redirect your attention, spend time re-building your life and collect your broken pieces. Make new achievable goals and have strategies that will help you realize them. This will help keep your zeal in life alive. Stay committed and focused in carrying out your action plan to avoid any more failures.
5. TALK IT OUT
Regrets are like a strong metallic hangman’s noose, like a highway to the grave. They can kill you. Talking to someone you trust helps much. Don’t keep issues to yourself. This helps you release pent-up feelings instead of bottling-up. When bad feelings are kept, they can burst out in embarrassing ways. Sharing your problems also helps others not to repeat the mistakes you did.