Boldness Regrets: A Superb Source of Motivation You May Be Ignoring
When deployed properly, regret is a superb source of motivation. We normally associate regret with feeling sad, repentant, or disappointed over a loss or missed opportunity. Sounds pretty dismal. However, a boldness regret occurs when you imagine the future, predict what you will regret, and then reorient your behavior to avoid the undesirable outcome likely to happen.
Boldness regrets reflect the choices we didn’t make. They remind us that opportunities are temporary. We must seize opportunities to take the actions required to achieve long-term ambitions that align with our passionate values. Otherwise, regrets emerge when we choose to play it safe and years later wonder “If only.” Anticipating regret from our failure to act reveals what we value most.
Sylvester Stallone captures the essence of boldness regrets with a riveting either-or-question: “What is healthier? To live under the illusion of hope that you could have been great or actually have an opportunity to be great and then you blow it and realize you’re a failure?”(Source: Netflix Documentary, Sly)
Stallone faced this choice when he wrote the screenplay for Rocky and United Artists offered him $265,000 (around $1.4 million today) for the movie rights. But he was prepared to turn down the offer if they didn’t hire him to play the lead role. He ultimately earned $2.5 million from the films’ success and became one of the greatest action movie actors of all time.
Regret coming from a failed attempt is one thing. The greatest regret comes from never embarking on a compelling vision or expending only half-hearted effort. You’re denying yourself a chance for massive success. Fear regrets more than failure.
The Boldness Imperative
It takes boldness because It’s difficult to accomplish something out of the ordinary when it seems like your everyday life is overtaking you at the moment.
It takes boldness to overcome the fear of failure when we start a new venture.
You might be saying to yourself, “I’ll be more equipped to do something bold when I have a little more experience.” Or you might be thinking, “Once I get through the busy part of my life, I’ll have more time to dedicate to my dream idea.”
Waiting for the ideal time and conditions to undertake bold adventures is often an illusion. The ideal circumstances don’t emerge all at once. Besides, waiting for the ideal time robs you of occasions to test yourself and empower new abilities to emerge.
Being ruthlessly honest in anticipating future regret is a superb form of motivation. It’s a primary source of boldness essential to live the life of your dreams.
Ruthlessly Honest Question
What are big ambitions you’ve held off pursuing for years by finding reasons why right now isn’t the ideal time to embark on what’s likely to be a challenging journey?
If you look 20 years into the future, what will be the regrets you’ll have for not being bold and pursuing a compelling yet risky goal?
Pause for two minutes to make a list.
Your Heroic Experiment for This Month
If you were writing the autobiography of your own life, would you be proud of the part you’re playing?
In this month’s experiment, what’s the new scene in your autobiography where you embark on a boldness regret?
What are the bold actions required to never have regrets for a heartfelt yet uncomfortable goal that’s been on your imaginary to-do list for too long?
To ensure you apply ideas from your reading of this newsletter, email me a couple of sentences about what you’re going to do in your experiment OR share the most helpful insights you gain from reading this newsletter… artturock@outlook.com.
Writing your insights in an email to me solidifies them in your mind.
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