We often look back on our lives and think, I should have known better. I should have chosen differently. But the deeper truth is this: there are no wrong choices, only experiences.
Every decision arises from the understanding we hold in that moment. With the awareness we had then, it was the best we could do. And each choice — whether it opened us to joy or led us through difficulty — carried us further along the path of becoming.
What we call mistakes are really teachers. They show us what does not serve us so that we may recognize what does. They reveal patterns we are ready to release. They shape the wisdom we carry forward. Without them, we would not know our own depth.
If even one decision had been different, our lives would not be what they are today. In this light, regret and guilt lose their weight. Instead of judging the past, we can meet it with compassion. We can forgive ourselves for being limited at the time and honor the courage it took to continue on.
Every choice has its purpose. Every experience is part of the unfolding. And when we see through this lens, we discover a quiet peace — knowing that nothing was wasted, and everything has shaped us into who we are right now.
Affirmation
I forgive my past, I trust my path, and I honor my becoming — for nothing is wasted and everything belongs to the journey.
Author’s Note:
After publishing this piece, my husband and I had a thoughtful debate about the idea that there are no wrong choices, only experiences. He felt strongly that some decisions—such as acts of violence or harm—are clearly wrong. And I agree that these actions have deep consequences, often devastating ones.
To clarify: the kind of choices I’m referring to here are the natural decisions we make in the unfolding of our lives—those shaped by our level of awareness, our fears, our hopes, and our limitations in the moment. I’m not speaking about criminal acts or choices made with the intent to harm, though even those carry consequences that people must live with, often painfully.
This blog is an invitation to release self-blame over the past and meet ourselves with compassion. It’s about understanding that the path to wisdom is rarely linear—and that healing often begins when we stop labeling our past as “wrong” and start learning from it instead.