Regret from not doing something, or regret from doing something?

[demuic]

Which do you think is worse in your experience/opinion?

Regret from not doing something as in -- missing an opportunity, inaction, staying silent when you could've said something, etc that makes you think "I wish I had done something"

Regret from doing something as in -- actively making a bad choice, starting a relationship, quitting a job, etc that makes you think "I wish I hadn't done something"

 

[GoodPersonEffed]

Usually when I regret not doing something, I imagine it would have turned out far better than I have any way of knowing, and don't consider that it could also have ended up shitty.

 

[WornOutLife]

Oh this is a tough one but I believe that the regrets from NOT doing something are worse.

I mean, what if that relationship became toxic? You were in love for some time at least. What if that job you thought was the best, ended up sucking? You at least gave it a shot and maybe made some friends and so on.

I think we have to SEEK DISCOMFORT even though it's really hard to do it. (Trust me, I can barely apply it in my life)

 

[deadbeat]

Regretting not doing something because I haven't done much of anything in my life.

 

[SuicideBoys93]

Easily not doing something. Typically when I do something it's not bad so I never regret doing certain things. Pretty much all the things I didn't do, I should of done.

 

[Wayfaerer]

Primarily doing something, one thing, which landed me here. If not for that one thing, I wouldn't be suicidal.

To a little bit lesser extent, if I had done other things during that time, I probably wouldn't have done that one regret so I feel like in a way they're on par.

Since that one regret things have been deteriorating much faster so I have even more reasons now to CTB on top of all that shit. Man, what a little wisdom could do for someone young. If I knew all that I knew now at like, age 20 or 21, my life would be 1,000,000% better.

 

[Lmd]

Regret from not doing something. I prefer to live without doubts than regrets. At least if you do it you can learn something for the next time.

 

[L I F E T O L O S E]

i regret nothing.

 

[Mr2005]

I regret what I didn't do. It's particularly bad because I have to face it every time I'm on here. There's no good reason why and it's pretty much killed me

 

[AnotherBrick]

I think it depends on the decision/context. I haven't done much with my life - which I regret - but I also regret the things I HAVE done, too. Good and bad can be found in both action and inaction. If I HAD to lean one way, I would say that at least inaction typically hurts you alone, versus action can bring others into the shit show. So by that reasoning, I'd say action is worse. But ultimately, we're likely fucked either way.

 

[Ghost2211]

I regret poor choices more than lack of action. With poor choices I know I fucked up. There's no room for maybe.

 

[Lilacmoon]

I think it depends on the gravity of the situation, really. Sometimes inaction is worse, sometimes poor action ruins everything. It's context-oriented, at leat, that's what I think.

Thank you for the question! It was fun to think about.