The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward
by Daniel H. Pink
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23:04
Author describes regret’s functions for TED + audience interaction
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0
Mar, 2022
Spoiler:
Sharing that regret can be positive when leveraged correctly, the author describes four major types of regret. “Foundational regret” is about something basic we did not do, like not saving money for retirement. “Boldness regret” is when we wish we had acted or taken a risk. “Moral regret” is wishing we had done the right thing or a good thing. “Connection regrets” are about relationships (romantic, familial, work-related or friendships) coming apart, often through drift rather than explosive crisis, and us not reaching out to re-connect.
8:18
Excerpt from author interview with positives of regret
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2K
Feb, 2022
Spoiler:
Regret is part of the human condition. Although we tend to think that regret makes us weaker, it can actually make us stronger, becoming an engine for forward progress. The author collected 16,000 regrets from people in 105 countries and used that information to figure out what is most important in life. While positive emotions should outnumber negative emotions, we do need negative emotions because they instruct us, regret being at the top of that possibly-instructive list.
4:52
Animated summary of key ideas in BookBoards format
4K
111
Mar, 2022
Spoiler:
Americans are statistically more likely to feel regret than they are to floss their teeth. “Foundation regrets” happen when we make a choice that’s easy in the short term but compromises our long-term term stability, like developing bad health habits when we’re young. Because humans fundamentally want to be good, “moral regrets” are another main category of regretting. Common moral regrets include bullying and cheating on a spouse. The author gives strategies for converting today’s regrets into tomorrow’s fuel for doing better.
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Other books by Daniel H. Pink
Publications
The Washington Post: You’ve been told to let go of the past. But can regret be good for you?
Forbes: Daniel H. Pink Says Regret Is Inevitable But You Can Harness It For The Good
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