What's worse? Regretting doing something or not doing something?

Question

I know it's been asked a lot, but I'd just like to add that "not doing something" means that what you decided to do was not do it. So essentially, what you did was nothing, which is still an action. Does that make sense? Basically everybody should reply "regretting doing something" if they think outside the box.

Answer 1

i regret not even doing something.

Answer 2

My theory is to live life with no regrets... only lessons learned.

I say that to myself when I start to feel regretful, find the lesson in my action (or non-action) and use all those little lessons to make better choices next time. No point in feeling bad about stuff you can't change... smarter to learn what do next time instead. Seriously... life goes a lot smoother that way.

And you don't spend half an hour trying to figure out how to word questions about regret ;)

Answer 3

As an over 50 person, I have more regrets for not doing, then the things I have done. Indecision is a time waster, and for every action there is a reaction. Choose wisely based on the best info. you have, but act.. And who put you in the box in the first place.You?

Answer 4

What is worse than regretting doing or not doing something?
Getting towards the end of your life and looking back and seeing the way you did things and realizing if you may have done sometime not too significant, things that you did may have had a massive difference or your life may have took a different direction.

Answer 5

Excuse me, but did you just tell me how to answer. Eh hmmm.... I will answer myself, thank you VERY MUCH! This is a deep question you've asked, my dear. Regretting NOT doing something is worse because then you've possible learned NOTHING, or less than you COULD have. Just my opinion. I think it is important to be able to relate to a large number of differences and people within a limit. It allows that "out of the box" mentality to flourish so to speak. It REALLY does. Remember, now, my dear: life is measured not by how many breaths you take, but my the moments that take your breath away.
Eh hemmm.. That will be all.

LOL!

Answer 6

Not doing something. This just shows that you weren't willing to put a risk on something you feel would be good for something else. If you did something that you regret, at least you took action in something you feel would do good. At least you followed your instincts. Not doing something is not proactive and since it isn't it would not bring about the betterment of society. It just raises the amount of lethargic people.

Answer 7

The basic development of our world has founded on the principle of "Doing something"....eventually it turned into success or failure, but still our forefathers were doing something and they did so for the betterment of humanbeing....and we are surely seeing the outcome....its another matter whether the fruits are sweet or bitter, but at least something in our palm that we can say about.
There is a great saying which means "Perform your prescribed duty, because action is better than inaction. A man cannot even maintain his physical body without work.”

So even doing something is doing a thing.

Answer 8

Regretting not doing something is worse. At least, if you did something about it, you know the outcome of your actions. You somewhow get a result! Whereas if you did nothing about it, you'll be asking yourself "what could've happened" for the rest of your life.

Answer 9

Depending on your mood either one can seem
worse than the other. Which would you regret
more, not killing someone you hated or doing
something that hurt a person you liked?

In a facetious mood, I have seen the statement
from some people that the thing they regretted
most was not the vices they committed but the
ones they didn't commit when they had the chance.

Answer 10

Regret doing something is worse for me.Its hard to deal with your past actions and not to do something you can only imagine what would have been

Answer 11

There is an old English saying:
Error is a hardy plant that flourishes in every soil.

Errors will happen, but the true one will admit it as soon he/she realizes that it is an error. That is faithfulness.

Now thinking philosophically, in every "doing" there is "not doing" and every "not doing" there is "doing". Here we have to understand that happenings and inevitable but the causes and means can only vary. For example: If Jesus is not betrayed by Judas, Peter will have to do it or John will do it.