Regret: A philosphical account

Personal Reflectionss

Does anyone truly know what regret is? On the surface, we might call it a feeling worse than depression or even more devastating than losing someone dear. But let me clarify: I’m not trying to trivialize other forms of pain. Rather, I want to highlight how regret can encompass and overwhelm a person’s entire sense of self. It’s a deeper emotion that surfaces when you start doubting your own decisions, leading you toward mediocrity and self-doubt. Regret is not a pleasant feeling at all; in fact, it’s quite destructive. When you carry regret within you, even your loved ones begin to notice a change in your demeanor and outlook. That sadness cannot be hidden for long.

Regret is something that cannot simply be forgotten or brushed aside. It can take a long time to overcome, as it burrows deep into your psyche. It’s “profound” both in how it takes hold of you and in the gravity of its substance. Unlike fleeting emotions, regret can feel everlasting. But what exactly do we regret? Is regret universal, or does it vary greatly from person to person? There are countless examples I could share, but I don’t claim to be an authority on this subject. I only observe and read, and I wish to convey these reflections as they come.

Here I am—sipping gin and watching Squid Game—while gazing at my study table covered in books. Is the feeling that I’m “wasting my time” a form of regret? I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps it depends on how each person defines regret. With the year ending, I find I’m not inclined to regret a wasted day or even a wasted month; though maybe I should be. Regret itself, I believe, shouldn’t have a one-size-fits-all definition.

Sometimes, I even regret writing these very words. And yet, there’s a strange sense of bliss in that regret—an odd comfort in knowing I can express it. After all, confronting our regrets and giving voice to them might be the first step toward understanding, and possibly overcoming, this powerful emotion.

NOTE: Drafted by me, edited and structuring using AI.