Tag: #thepowerofregrets

Feeling is for Thinking. Thinking is for Action.

While I was reading Daniel Pink’s book, The Power of Regrets, this line struck me and got me thinking:

Feeling is for Thinking. Thinking is for Action.

As the year comes to an end, I can’t help feeling many emotions: joy, gratitude and blessed, as well as disappointment and regrets. What he said first – feeling is for thinking – made me reflect on my feelings and what they mean to me. Then he said – thinking is for action – inspires me to step into the new year with boldness and courage.

Feeling: What surfaced This Year Matters

Year-end feelings are not distractions to be skimmed over, they reveal true indicators of our past year. They point to what we have valued this year, and what we are grateful for this year. Where there are regrets for the year, it points to what has continued to stir in our hearts.

Search me, O God, and know my heart – Psalm 139:23

Thinking: Reflection turns Feeling into Wisdom

Feelings are fleeting and not always dependable, yet they are useful for reflection and insight. Sitting with our feelings makes us pause for self-reflection, which will lead us to better thinking, insight and wisdom.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom – Psalm 90:12

Action: Obedience is the bridge to the Next Chapter

The end of a year leads to the beginning of a new year, just like closing one door and opening a new door. A time to let go of the year that is ending, and embrace a new year – with the alignment of the heart for faithful obedience to God. To say “Yes!” to God. To make the decision that has been delayed long enough. To take action with renewed courage. To setup systems in place rather than rely on my willpower or discipline. To trust in God’s plan for me.

Do not merely listen to the word… Do what it says – James 1:22

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you: sit with your feelings, reflect on them to lead you to your thinking, then let your thinking lead you to your action. Because when reflection turns into obedience, regret turns into redemption – a new chapter and a new year begins.

From Regret to Redemption

I just finished Daniel Pink’s book, “The Power of Regret – How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward”. He identified four types of regrets – what it sounds like and the human needs it reveals:

Type of Regret What it sounds like The Human Needs it Reveals
Foundation If only I’d done the work Stability
Boldness If only I’d taken the risk Growth
Moral If only I’d done the right thing Goodness
Connection If only I’d reached out Love

A solid foundation. A little boldness. Basic morality. Meaningful connection. The negative emotion of regret reveals the positive path of living – Daniel Pink, The Power of Regret.

As much as we would like to live a life without regrets, we realize that it is impossible – from the small regret of eating the extra slice of cake to major regret of ruining a marriage or business.

However, regret is not failure. Often, God uses regret as a turning point:

  • Peter deeply regretted denying Jesus three times. In return, Jesus asked him three times, “Do you love me?”. Then Jesus built the foundation of His church with Peter.
  • Moses spent 40 years regretting a rash decision that caused him to flee to the desert. Yet God prepared him as a shepherd so that he could lead a nation out of Egypt.
  • Paul carried the weight of persecuting Christians, until God appeared and spoke to him, “Why are you persecuting me?”. This transformed him to become one of the most powerful apostle to spread the Good News to many pagan nations.

God has a long history of redeeming regrets. He used our past regrets to become wisdom and conviction to move us forward in a way that no other way could. God had used all my regrets for His purpose, and redeemed me in His love, grace and hope. Looking back, there was no other way God could have convicted me from my stubborn heart, except through the pain and sorrow of regret. What I had regretted – revealed to me what I truly valued.

For all of us still wallowing in the “If Only” Regrets, God is calling us to His redemption of grace and hope, to lead us to our salvation.

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: to seek God’s redemption for your regrets.