#masculinity #selfimprovement #selfdevelopment When we feel disappointment and sorrow over what might have been or we wish we could change a choice we made in the past, we have regrets. Often, a sense of shame accompanies our regrets. As these feelings are so uncomfortable, we avoid them at all costs. Or endless regret always stays with us. In the latter case, regret might haunt us and prevent us from progressing. For example, maybe you worked too much while your children grew up. Consequently, they are not close to you, and you are filled with regret about it. You feel stuck because your kids and your grandchildren aren’t in touch. You blame your past actions. Letting go of regret is important for your mental, emotional and also physical health. Regrets can be harmful when we don’t want to accept them. For example, maybe you didn’t defend your friend who was accused of saying something derogatory. You didn’t speak up at the time to clear their name. You push down those feelings of guilt and embarrassment because they are unpleasant. You end up feeling disappointed in yourself and don’t want to be reminded of the incident. Regret can have adverse effects on your mind. Various psychological problems result from regret. Repetitive negative thought patterns and constant rumination can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. This kind of mental and emotional pain also affects our bodies. Negative effect of self-blame or inducing self-blame leads to increases in shame and guilt as well as increases in pro-inflammatory cytokine activity. According to Cleveland Clinic, inflammation is a symptom of many diseases like arthritis, cancer, and heart disease