Regret

The Paradox of the Rearview Mirror We often find that our memories of a difficult period feel lighter than the experience itself. In the heat of a struggle, Fear and Uncertainty act as static, drowning out the subtle notes of joy that exist even in hard times. When we look back, that static clears. We realize that the catastrophic outcomes we braced for never actually arrived. This clarity allows us to enjoy our past more than our present, creating a painful gap between how we lived and how we remember. The Trap of Rose-Colored Retrospection While looking back with fondness seems positive, it carries a hidden weight: Regret. We romanticize what was, yet we simultaneously grieve because we weren't fully there for it. We see our past through a lens that filters out the grit, making us feel like we wasted the beauty that we only now recognize. To break this cycle, we must stop saving our appreciation for the future and start applying it to the messy, imperfect now. Anchoring in the Present Absurdity To find beauty in the struggle, we must adopt a radical perspective shift. First, view your current self through the eyes of your future self. That person will look back at this moment with either fondness or frustration. Choose to be gentle with yourself today so your future memory is one of resilience rather than self-reproach. Second, embrace Humour. Laughing at the sheer absurdity of a challenge breaks the power that struggle holds over your spirit. Intentional Evidence Collection Documentation is a tool for Self-Awareness. Most people only Journal when life feels heavy, turning their notebooks into graveyards of grievances. Instead, record the small wins and the moments of light when things are going well. This creates a factual record of your strength. It prevents the mind from rewriting history and reminds you that beauty wasn't just a byproduct of time passing—it was there all along, waiting for you to notice it.