Regrets and Consciousness

Using Self-Reflection as a Pathway to Inner Growth

“Regrets are not mistakes to mourn—but messages from our higher self, reminding us where deeper work still awaits.”

The Common Thread of Regret

I sometimes wonder if other people have regrets like I do—about how they’ve lived their life, where their life is at now, and where it’s going. I see it everywhere: on social media, in the news, and through the endless wave of self-help content. There’s an abundance of people and information offering help for the betterment of life—everything from financial security to personal growth, relationship-building with a partner to relationship-building with oneself, and so much more.

I know it’s not just me. A lot of people are trying to figure it all out—what’s right, what’s wrong. What’s the best way for me? What feels right for me? And does that even matter, as long as I’ve done what I’m supposed to do by the end of the day?

Sometimes I wonder—is this just a Western thing? A cultural phenomenon? Or do people all over the world, in every society and culture, carry these same inner questions? I suppose the only way to know would be to step out of my reality box and meet others, travel, explore other ways of life. That’s one of my regrets—not traveling like I always dreamed of doing. I think everyone says this at some point, but for me, it lingers.

The Personal Inventory

I wake up each morning carrying regrets—about what I did do yesterday, what I didn’t do yesterday. And even though I know I can change that today… I probably won’t. And I regret that too.

So, what are these regrets really about?

I think they begin with the thoughts of what I want or need to do for myself. So here’s a short list:

• I want to get healthier (lose fat, tone muscle).
• I want to learn and experience more in this life.
• I want to understand myself—my thoughts, behaviors, inner workings—more deeply.
• I want to be more patient, compassionate, and empathetic.
• I want to be in a position to help others—not financially, but spiritually, existentially, metaphysically.
• I want to expand my consciousness to understand my life purpose, my past lives, and what they mean for my future ones.

Of course, this is just the surface—there’s so much woven into each of those intentions.

The Daily Pattern

And you know what? Most of these regrets boil down to a simple truth: they stem from habits—habits of thought and undisciplined choices.

If I want to lose weight and reshape my body, don’t eat the ice cream. Go to the gym. Go for a walk. Don’t scroll aimlessly through social media or zone out in front of the TV.

My inspiration for life is highest in the early morning hours, when, from what I’ve heard, “normal people” are still asleep. I can read, write, study, and not get distracted by the endless “things” that otherwise pile up in a day. But as soon as others start waking up, as soon as I have to interact with the world again—my inspired state begins to fade. My intentions scatter.

And no—I realize this isn’t a valid excuse for stopping my spiritual work, my physical efforts, or my personal evolution. It’s simply that when I plan my day in the silence of the morning, I forget that my life involves sharing space with other human beings. People who also have “things” they need to do.

That’s not a regret.
My regrets come from my choices—from the inner decisions I make each day amidst the pool of my emotions, thoughts, fears, and distractions. And I know I’m not alone. Everyone, in their own way, wrestles with this.

My regret isn’t that others are in my life—it’s that I keep conforming my life to what I think it should be based on someone else’s path. “Don’t rock the boat,” I tell myself. “Keep the waters smooth.”
But there’s always a current under the surface.

The Regret Loop

I wake up in the morning with that heavy feeling—mental cobwebs, fog, and sluggishness. Then I remember what I ate. What I drank. The choices I made yesterday. And it hits me: I didn’t live in alignment with who I want to be.

I can wake up fired up—full of purpose, ready to dive into my metaphysical studies, Hermetic work, Theosophical readings. I feel strong, ready to reclaim my health, sharpen my focus, evolve my consciousness.

And then… by 3 or 4 p.m., it slips away. I fall back into the same choices.
And the next morning, the regret returns.

Still—I don’t stop.
I keep doing it.
Again.
And again.
And again.

I need to break the cycle.

Reframing Regret as a Message

But it’s hard to break a cycle when you haven’t put something real in its place. I need to see change—or at least feel it.

And here’s what I’m learning:
These morning regrets? I have to accept them. Not to wallow in them, but to listen to them. If I see them only as mistakes, I’ll stay stuck in shame. But if I recognize them as messages—as reflections of what still needs healing, alignment, and deeper work—then they become tools.

But there’s a fine line here. If I just accept the regrets passively, they lose their power to inspire. Regrets are there to activate change—to guide us toward more aligned actions on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.

I see now—feel now—that when I wake up with the same regret over and over again, it’s because life is showing me what I need to keep working on. In my mind. In my heart. In my habits.
In my consciousness.

Final Reflection

I have the ability—and the courage—to change.
I can use yesterday’s regrets as reminders of where I’ve been and how far I’ve come.

They serve as markers, guiding me forward each day as I grow stronger in body, mind, and spirit. I now understand that recognizing the roots of these regrets is like reading a map embedded in the higher realms of my consciousness.

This map doesn’t rigidly show me the “correct” path—but instead offers me the opportunity to experience life fully, authentically, and with purpose. Through this, I expand—not only within this physical realm of existence, but across all levels and dimensions of my divine consciousness.

Reflect With Me

What have your regrets been trying to tell you?
What message might your consciousness be whispering beneath the surface?
Feel free to share in the comments—or reflect quietly and carry it into your day.