In this blog post, I explore what choices we should make at the boundary between regrets, obsession, and letting go to move in a better direction.
Reflecting deeply on this aspect of my personality, I also realize that being unable to let go isn’t entirely negative. Of course, as mentioned earlier, excessive obsession or clinging has harmed me and led to poor exam results. Yet, on the other hand, I’ve gained many valuable lessons from it. Through the process of holding onto regrets, I gained clearer insight into my own limitations and weaknesses, allowing me to focus on finding ways to compensate for them. Furthermore, I don’t believe that giving up without regret is always the best choice. There are definitely times when holding onto that regret leads to better outcomes or the discovery of unexpected possibilities.
People often say, ‘Failure is the mother of success.’ I believe this statement holds some truth. Looking back on my own experience, my failures actually became a greater motivator for me and provided the impetus to work even harder. If I hadn’t failed the CSAT, I might not have clearly recognized my weaknesses and simply moved on. Because I had that experience of failure, I was able to prepare more meticulously during my retake year and ultimately achieve a better result.
Therefore, there’s no need to view regrets or failure itself solely as negative. What matters is how you accept that experience and what you can learn from it. I believe I learned a great deal through the regrets and failures I experienced, and that has made me stronger today. And when similar situations arise in the future, I will be able to make wiser decisions based on that experience.
However, the challenge that remains for me is finding the appropriate boundary between regret and obsession. Excessive obsession is clearly harmful, but a reasonable level of regret can help me grow. Finding that boundary won’t be easy, but I believe it’s one of the important tasks in my life. And to find that boundary, continuous self-reflection and experience are necessary.
Furthermore, I think acknowledging and accepting this aspect of my nature is also an important process. I often criticize myself for being stubborn, but that is not my whole self. My tenacious nature has sometimes worked to my advantage and has been the driving force that brought me to where I am today. Therefore, rather than completely discarding that tendency, it would be a more desirable attitude to consider how I can utilize it more flexibly.
Moving forward, I intend to cultivate the strength to make better choices based on this reflection. I aim to cultivate the wisdom to distinguish when to let go of regrets and when to hold on until the end. This process won’t be easy, but I believe it’s entirely possible through consistent effort and training. And above all, building trust in myself during this journey will be crucial. I believe I possess the potential to grow, and striving towards that will help me understand and respect myself more deeply.
Ultimately, life is a continuous series of choices. Within those choices, there may sometimes be regrets or lingering attachments. But what matters is not getting entangled in those attachments, but learning from them to make better choices going forward. The experiences I’ve reflected on through this writing are part of that realization and will serve as an important guide for my future life.
I now believe that learning to find balance between letting go and holding on, and moving forward in a better direction, is the task I must pursue. Ultimately, mastering that balance will enrich my life and help me grow into a stronger person.
