Daniel Pink explains why bronze medalists feel happier than silver medalists. Silver medalists imagine doing better ("if only I pushed harder"), which breeds regret. Bronze medalists imagine finishing fourth instead, which feels like a win. Regret hurts, but you can use it to improve next time.
Why are third-place finishers happier than second-place finishers? It's called counterfactual thinking, imagining what could have happened. Bronze medalists think, at least I didn't come in fourth. That's a downward counterfactual, imagining something worse. Silver medalists think, if only I had pushed a little harder. That's an upward counterfactual, imagining something better. Regret is an upward counterfactual. It hurts, but done right, it can help. Because by imagining how things could have gone better, We can do better next time. So the next time you feel regret and think, if only, don't ignore the feeling and don't beat yourself up over it. Use the feeling to fuel your next move.
