The Pain of Regret

Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED substack article, the only substack newsletter that bought a ten-dollar pen because it always loses pens and got sick of not caring.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

~ Romans 8:18

The pain of regret is far worse than the pain of discipline.

That statement is attributed to someone named Nathan Whitley.

To put it another way, the pain of discipline is far less severe than the pain of regret.

Jim Rohn’s rendering of the idea is as follows:

“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.”

Indeed, the pain of regret is far greater than the pain of discipline.

I wish I had come across this pithy quote when I wrote 48 Laws of Spiritual Power.

It meshes nicely with Law #29 – “Do Not Compromise.”

Indeed, I would have added it to that chapter.

Discipline is painful. At best, it’s annoying or inconvenient.

That’s true for physical exercise, saying “no” to certain temptations (like mainlining Kettle potato chips after 9pm), to spiritual disciplines, to denying ourselves in all areas.

But regret over a mistake we’ve made during a moment of stupidity is far more painful.

Such regret can sometimes haunt a person for their entire lives, so it’s essentially permanent. And it can even be ignominious.

Discipline, on the other hand, is temporary for the moment.

“Just one more pushup, and I’m finished! (Now I can eat that cheesecake.)”

Scratch that last sentence. That’s the regret part.

So here’s my own paraphrase:

The pain of regret is far greater than the pain of discipline.

The pain of discipline is far less severe than the pain of regret.

In fact, this thought is so wise and practical that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to tattoo it under your eyelids.

Or more realistically, write it on an index card and tape it to your bathroom mirror. Or make a screen saver out of it.

Keep it before you somehow.

The pain of regret is far greater than the pain of discipline.

The pain of discipline is far less severe than the pain of regret.

Oh, and please don’t quote the above on social media. I didn’t originate this line, I merely adjusted it.

Like Jim Elliot did with a quote by Philip Henry.

Elliot: “He is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

Henry: “He is no fool who parts with that which he cannot keep, when he is sure to be recompensed with that which he cannot lose.”

If you want to quote the idea on social media, quote Whitley or Rohn’s rendering.

Regardless of which quote you like best, you and I would be wise to never forget the idea.

And as with all of my articles, you’re free to share the link on your social media pages.

Until next Thursday,

Your brother,

fv

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