LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Every moment is a fresh beginning." T.S. Eliot

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

It's August and this month I'm going to dive into the topic of REGRET. I don't know what the word REGRET triggers in you, but I want to drag you along with me this month by looking at some quotes on regret, sharing some resources, and just thinking about what that means in our lives.

Remember, you can always go back to see past posts and more positive themes that we've addressed on the website HERE.

But journey with me....

T.S. Eliot reminds us here of the simple truth, that "every moment is a fresh beginning." Aren't you glad for that?

Aren't you glad that we don't have to relive all of our mistakes?

Aren't you glad that we can start fresh?

Aren't you glad that sometimes we get to do things again and do them better?

Aren't you glad that we aren't defined by our past, but that we have the opportunity to redefine ourselves over and over again, learning as we grow, becoming more and more like the person God has created us and called us to be?

Aren't you glad?

We've been talking about REGRET this past month, and this will be the last post on this, and it's simply a reminder that you don't have to live being stuck in regret.

I recently listened to a podcast on Walt Disney and all of the struggles he had before he launch Disneyland, which turned out to be a major success, both here in Southern California and around the world.

There were many times that he could have quit, times where he put everything on the line, and to his story, he was able to see his dream become a reality.

There are many others who struggled over and over again, making mistake after mistake, wanting to quit, yet they kept going until something clicked.

I think the overarching reminder from this conversation with regret is to simply keep moving, don't let things paralyze you, realized that everyone makes mistakes and everyone struggles at one point or another.

You are not alone.

Today, what does it feel like to start fresh, to have a new beginning without looking back and comparing everything to what happened in your past?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Do it or don't do it - you will regret both." Soren Kierkegaard

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

It's August and this month I'm going to dive into the topic of REGRET. I don't know what the word REGRET triggers in you, but I want to drag you along with me this month by looking at some quotes on regret, sharing some resources, and just thinking about what that means in our lives.

Remember, you can always go back to see past posts and more positive themes that we've addressed on the website HERE.

But journey with me....

I'm don't want to dive into all of the teachings and perspectives of Soren Kierkegaard, but when I saw his words above, I agreed with him.

I remember a time when I was younger that I had to choose between 3 job offers. I did all the normal things that people should do, and I was really seeking peace in the decision we would make. Looking back, I think my biggest hesitation was REGRET. I was more worried about making the wrong decision, worried that I would regret the decision I made instantly, that I was PARALYZED for a moment.

Have you ever felt that? Completely stuck, unable to make a decision, unable to move forward. Fearful. Confused. Unsure.

That's what I was feeling and I went back and forth, landing on one job one day and another the next, weighing the pros and cons, praying for guidance while at the same time, leaning on my own instincts.

It was a really confusing time, until I was reminded of something my dad had encouraged me with...

I don't remember when he told me this, but he had challenged me to always focus on what I'm being called to, not what I might be running away from.

Remembering this changed my posture, and I've shared this with many people over the years.

When you play the "what if I make the wrong decision" game, you'll always be stuck, you'll always have regret, and you'll often fall back on the idea of "what if I had made a different decision".

I think this is what Kierkegaard was saying... either way, regret can creep in.

The difference for me is that I have someone who is leading me, and all I have to do is recognize His voice, put my faith in Him, and trust that He's going to lead me where He wants me to be.

In my crazy job selection process, Gina and I finally heard that voice clearly, and we made a decision that changed our lives. Some people thought we were crazy, others couldn't understand it, and at times we even doubted ourselves, but the call was clear. No regret.

That doesn't mean that things were perfect. If just means that we were in the right spot.

What do you do when you feel like there's no right decision and you're stuck? What helps you navigate through the process of coming to a decision?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done." Lucille Ball

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

It's August and this month I'm going to dive into the topic of REGRET. I don't know what the word REGRET triggers in you, but I want to drag you along with me this month by looking at some quotes on regret, sharing some resources, and just thinking about what that means in our lives.

Remember, you can always go back to see past posts and more positive themes that we've addressed on the website HERE.

But journey with me....

I listen to a lot of podcasts, and especially enjoy business stories. 2 of my favorite podcasts are How I Built This with Guy Raz, and the second is The Best Idea Yet by Nick and Jack. Both podcasts tell the stories behind the business, one in an interview format and the other simply digging in for the "untold" story.

I don't know why I enjoy listening to these so much, but I know that it inspires me, encourages me, gives me ideas and keeps my brain working! Sometimes I marvel at a story and the good luck that came with it as well as the hard work and persistence, but every once in a while, a little "regret" slips in.

As I hear these stories of business challenge and success, I find myself wondering, "what if I had kept working on that idea that I had"? Would I be living a different life today?

Let's see...

• There was the scrap paper sales on the Y in Ecuador, back before people were selling stuff on the street.

• There was the scarf importing business in college that had potential to put a scarf on the neck of every man, woman and child on planet earth, or at least those that went to the Sunday Swap Meet in Azusa.

• There was the lawn business, mowing lawns in the desert of homes that were up for sale.

• There was the coffee business, on multiple fronts, that had so much potential.

I could probably keep going, but I've been an aspiring entrepreneur since my first job mowing lawns in my neighborhood, probably at 9 years of age.

It would be easy to spend time thinking, "What if?"

• What if I had stuck with that idea?

• What if I had purchased that stock then?

• What if I had not settled and worked harder?

• What if I had gone to a different school?

The "what ifs" will keep coming.

It's easy to get caught in this spiral and spend a lot of time and energy thinking about what might have happened had we done something different.

The quote above talks about that...

I don't regret any of my great "business ideas" because at the time in my life, they served a purpose in my growth and development, and I also don't regret walking away from a couple of these ideas that had potential.

What about you? What do you spend time thinking about or wondering about.... "if only I would have...."