How often students are tormented by regrets about what university they chose, what course they studied, and what book they read? And since people can not fix the past, it torments them even more. The person continues to blame, scold, criticize or get angry that nothing can be fixed. Living with such emotions is hard, and sometimes there is simply no strength and desire to move forward, visit classes, build the future and live joyfully.
Scholars state that regret is a strong negative emotion associated with the feeling of responsibility. It does not have a good effect not only on relationships with others and one’s own mood but also on a student’s university performance. It arises when there is a lack of time, strict deadlines, and academic failures. Students can not cope with a busy schedule. They start hesitating about whether they have organized their academic work efficiently. As a result, students feel constant stress and even might get depressed.
Why does Regret Prevent You from Succeeding in School?
Getting an education can be rather demanding. It is even more difficult in case students spend hours concerned about not having enjoyed student life. Instead of visiting parties and spending time traveling, they have to visit campus libraries, conduct research, and write various papers. It kills motivation and causes poor academic results. They might neglect to study and not achieve their goals.
It gets worse when students have an excessive workload. They need to read numerous books and write essays on various topics. To have some space for entertainment students can look for some help online. Here you can find resources that provide a free collection of regret essay topics, for instance, and get inspiration to start writing. There is no need to waste time if you can look through the best examples of essays. Furthermore, a sample essay is an ideal starting point to explore its structure and figure out the title and outline for your paper.
6 tips to Turn Regret into Self-Improvement
- Rate how you deal with regret. Students often try to avoid negative feelings and emotional discomfort. They try to isolate themselves from the pain caused by various regrets. However, ignoring one’s own emotions can reduce the ability to experience satisfaction and joy. Scientists note that only awareness of one’s true emotions and feelings is an effective way to overcome the feeling of regret.
- Break your obsession. Use a ten-second rule. You need to learn to stop yourself each time you want to plunge into the past with regret again. It is really tough, but only at the beginning. Once old regrets kick in, allow yourself to think about them for no more than 10 seconds. Then briefly remember those pearls of wisdom, the conclusions that you have learned thanks to them, and quickly switch your attention to something else.
- Review your regret, and then repeat these phrases “I am human and I can make mistakes. And yet I can love and be loved.” Accept that all people, especially students, make mistakes from time to time. Regret shows that we care and that we have a conscience, which is a positive thing. However, prolonged self-flagellation is harmful.
- Treat yourself the way your ideal mentor would. Forgive yourself for your mistakes. Self-compassion is an effective way to overcome feelings of regret. Do not judge yourself too harshly. Instead, find out what is important to you. We need to recognize our positive qualities, pause, and try to understand how we got to where we are now. What attracts people to us? What makes us funny, loving, reliable, smart, interesting, and generally attractive? It is essential to remember our values and our merits and cherish what makes us special.
- Find out what’s important to you. Use emotions as a starting point to consider what is genuinely significant to you when you experience profound regret – the kind that makes you question your purpose in life rather than regretting the stupid mistake you made in your test. Think about the principles and values that are most crucial to you.
- Take action. As soon as you want to regret something again, you need to immediately shift your focus to what you are doing at the moment. Concentrate on the actions you are currently doing, on your success, pleasant sensations in your body, or on your breath. It will bring you back to the present moment.
Conclusion
Students are often under pressure. One of the ways to overcome negative emotions is to get a handle on regret. Lack of motivation and regret affect students’ academic scores and keep them trapped in negative thoughts and emotions. Why not allow yourself the freedom to admit your shortcomings, the right to make mistakes, and act unwisely? Avoid blaming yourself and believe that in the future you will become stronger and wiser.
“Mistakes are portals of discovery,” wrote James Joyce. It is impossible to live life without them. But mistakes and regrets are also opportunities for growth, development, change, and self-improvement. By acknowledging our “imperfections,” we can let go of the past and start over. Focus on the future and try to create it the way you want in terms of university performance and personal growth.