You ever notice how regret always shows up after the damage is done? It never knocks on the door early. It waits until you’ve already said the thing you shouldn’t have, lost the person you loved, or passed up the chance that mattered most. But here’s the thing — regret is a teacher that shows up late, but it teaches well. Psychologists like Neal Roese at Northwestern have spent decades studying regret, and his research shows it’s one of the most powerful motivators for self-correction and growth