Daniel Pink

The athletes who finished third appeared significantly happier than those who finished second.

Counterfactuals can point in either of two directions—down or up.

With upward counterfactuals, we imagine how things could have gone better. They make us say “If only . . .”

“downward counterfactuals,” we contemplate how an alternative could have been worse. They prompt us to say “At least . . .”

At Leasts deliver comfort and consolation.
If Onlys, by contrast, make us feel worse.

If Only counterfactuals degrade our feelings now, but—and this is key—they can improve our lives later.

Its very purpose is to make us feel worse—because by making us feel worse today, regret helps us do better tomorrow.

First Law of Holes: “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

getting people to think about a previous escalation of commitment, and then to regret it, decreased their likelihood of making the error again

Ample research shows that people who accept, rather than judge, their negative experiences end up faring better.