374. The psychology of regret

The podcast episode delves into the psychology of regret, particularly how it affects individuals in their 20s. It defines regret as a mix of sadness, disappointment, and grief over paths not taken, highlighting counterfactual thinking and self-blame as key components. The host references a study indicating that regret tied to self-blame correlates with increased depression. The episode also explores the most common regrets, such as focusing too much on romantic love and not investing early, and categorizes regrets into foundation, boldness, moral, and connection regrets. It suggests that the fear of regret can paralyze decision-making and introduces the concept of "pre-regret," where individuals emotionally pre-judge decisions. Ultimately, the podcast reframes regret as a potentially motivating emotion that can guide future actions and emphasizes self-compassion.