As happens many times with this podcast, today I want to talk about something that’s coming up for a lot of my clients right now. And that is, what to do when something does not work out as planned.

I think this is topic is relevant for most working people because for the past few years, we’ve been in an exceptionally strong job market. And you know what THAT has meant. They called it the Great Resignation because so many people – more than 47 million in the U.S. alone – have changed jobs. For whatever reason – money, location, flexibility, title, career change, more responsibility – there are so many reasons we do this. 

But guess what?  

According to two surveys conducted earlier this year, up to 20% of people who changed their job during the Great Resignation, now REGRET it. That’s 1 in 5 people. So, in the U.S., where an estimated 47 MM people changed jobs, that’s just shy of 10 MM people who now regret that decision.

And this idea of disappointing outcomes isn’t confined to our careers. In 2022, it’s estimated that a little over 44% of marriages will end in divorce. So, for every 6 people who get married this year? 2.6 will get divorced.

Same thing with relocation. Because that was another big shift during the pandemic. Millions of people picked up and moved. And according to statistics, about 30% of them regret at least a few things about their move – whether it’s about moving away from friends or family, dislike of the new location or whatever.

Basically, the important thing to know about making big, life changing decisions is that when we do, there’s a decent chance that it won’t go as planned. 

And there are so many reasons for this. So many things we could talk about related to big decisions. About whether we put the proper thought into it. Or paid attention to all the variables. Or did our research. Or listened to our gut. Or whatever. 

But today, I don’t want to focus on how to make strong decisions or aligned decisions upfront. Today I want to talk to those of you who are currenting DEALING with the aftermath or unfortunately outcome of a big decision.  

Because dealing with regret or disappointment or unfortunate outcomes is part of the human experience. it’s going to happen. For all of us. In one or maybe many areas of our life. And for that reason, it’s important to be clear about what to do when maybe you did all the upfront analytics, when you weighed the pros and the cons, and things STILL didn’t turn out the way you hoped. Whether you’re feeling a little disillusioned or swimming in massive regret, it’s important to know that there are things you can do to turn it around.

I think this is going to be an important episode and a relevant and timely one for so many of you, so, let’s dive in.

When we make a big decision, we’re essentially taking a chance. We’re leaping into the unknown and counting on the outcome to be what we expected it to be. But as the stats that I shared earlier show – whether we’re talking career, marriage, relocation or probably any other big decision you will make – a good percentage of the time, things aren’t going to work out the way you hoped.

When this happens, it’s so easy to get stuck in either denial or blame or victimhood or regret. 

And when you do that, you know what happens? You make the disappointing outcome even worse by keeping yourself stuck there longer. 

For more, give the episode a listen.

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