The Power of Regret With Bestselling Author Daniel Pink

On the Verywell Mind Podcast, Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life.

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Meet Daniel Pink

• Daniel Pink is a New York Times bestselling author whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide.
• His intriguing titles about business and behavior include books such as "When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing" and "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us."
• His most recent book, "The Power of Regret," analyzes how to use regret to make progress in life. He surveyed over 15,000 people from various parts of the world and discovered intriguing information about regret.

Why Daniel Pink Is Mentally Strong

• Daniel Pink conducts extensive research before creating books on a topic.
• He chooses subjects that are frequently misunderstood or complex and makes them easy to comprehend.
• Additionally, he sheds fresh light on established ideas.
• He is also not afraid to share his own vulnerabilities.
• He acknowledges that the reason he frequently studies certain topics is that he has struggled with those issues as well, rather than presenting himself as an expert who never makes errors.

What You'll Hear on the Show

• What it genuinely means to regret something
• Why you might want to change your answer on a multiple-choice test (and how the fear of regret prevents us from doing so)
• Why we sometimes don't want to acknowledge that we have regrets
• The extraordinary lengths we go to in an effort to evade regret
• The four categories of regret
• The distinctions between the regrets of younger and older people
• The most prevalent regrets that Daniel's study found
• Strategies for dealing with regret
• Why so many people regret being unkind to others as youngsters and what this reveals about us
• How sharing one's regret lessens the burden
• How regret can help you develop in a healthy way
• How to learn from regret
• Daniel's biggest regrets in life
• Why Daniel compiled a list of all of his regrets and failures
• How to deal with the worry of doing something you might later come to regret

What You'll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength

• Many people believe that having no regrets is a badge of honor in life. But the truth is, everyone probably regrets something, and that's not a bad thing.
• Being aware that you can do something you regret and still be okay is a sign of resilience.
• After all, if you lived your life to prevent ever feeling regret, you wouldn't take many chances.
• You might need to consider what you're more likely to regret, such as moving to a new city or always living in the same place. Or, would you regret pursuing the person you love or never taking the risk?
• Regret can be an unpleasant experience, but that doesn't mean it has to be harmful. We can learn a lot from regret if we let ourselves experience it.

Quotes From Daniel

• "Everybody has regrets. It's part of our cognitive machinery." — Daniel Pink
• "There's little evidence that self-criticism results in positive outcomes. Self-esteem isn't much better. What we should be doing is self-compassion."
• "We assume that when we show our flaws, mistakes, or vulnerabilities, people will dislike us less. Because they appreciate our bravery, they generally like us more."
• "Just writing about your regret for 15 minutes a day for three days can be very beneficial because it lessens the regret's power. It makes it seem less daunting and starts the process of giving it meaning."

More About the Podcast

• The Verywell Mind Podcast is available on all streaming platforms.
• If you enjoy the show, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
• Reviews and ratings are a great way to inspire others to listen and prioritize their mental health as well.

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