We all have regrets. That nagging, shameful, tight, sick feeling when we’ve made a mistake, hurt someone, or fallen short of our own standards—that’s our ethical unconscious speaking. It’s not weakness. It’s proof we’re human, that we have a moral compass pointing us toward integrity.

Some people choose silence when they stumble. They protect, defend, pretend blamelessness. But that silence doesn’t erase the regret. It amplifies it. The alarm keeps ringing inside until we acknowledge it. And the cost? It shows up in our relationships, our work, our effectiveness. Hiding from accountability erodes trust—with others and with ourselves. It steals our peace.

Saying “I’m sorry” isn’t about groveling or diminishing yourself. It’s an act of courage. It says: I see what happened. I own my part in it. I’m accountable for my choices and my work.

Apology is just the beginning. Mistakes can be fixed—through changed behavior, through making amends, through doing the repair work. Words matter, but action completes them. Creates positive change.

Without sincere regret, we become paralyzed. We can’t grow because we’re too busy protecting a false version of ourselves. But when we acknowledge our missteps and take responsibility, something remarkable happens. The alarm finally stops. We feel the relief of honoring what our ethical unconscious was trying to tell us all along. We free ourselves. We reclaim our honor.

We are human beings capable of tremendous honesty and dignity. Looking inside yourself, facing what you find there—even the uncomfortable parts—isn’t punishment. It’s liberation. It’s choosing truth over self-deception. It’s saying: I made a mistake, and I’m still worthy of respect because I have the strength to own it and fix it.

That’s the foundation of character. That’s how we live one way—authentically, accountable, and free.

Thanks – Michael (he, him)

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This matters too – Regret.

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