"Je préfère regretter d'avoir fait quelque chose que de ne pas l'avoir fait"

The heart of this idea is pretty straightforward: it’s better to give something a shot and possibly fail than to never try at all and be left wondering, "What if?" Regrets about missed opportunities can gnaw at you far more than the sting of failure from taking a chance.

Consider the historical context of when people say things like this. It's often uttered during moments of reflection or when faced with a big decision. Maybe someone is on the brink of a major life choice—quitting a secure job to chase a dream, moving to a new city, or even confessing feelings to someone. It’s a rallying cry for courage, pushing us to step out of our comfort zones.

Let me paint you a picture with a real-life example. Picture Sarah, a graphic designer in her mid-30s. She’s been working at the same company for years. It’s stable, sure, but she feels creatively stifled. One day, she gets an offer from a startup that promises more creative freedom but comes with much less financial security. After a lot of sleepless nights and weighing the pros and cons, she decides to leave her safe job and join the startup. The road’s bumpy—there are moments she questions her decision—but ultimately, she finds herself flourishing creatively and feeling more alive than she has in years. Had she stayed in her old job, she might have spent the rest of her career wondering what could have been.

So how can you apply this wisdom in your own life? First, start small if the big leaps seem too daunting. Try out that new hobby you’ve been curious about. Talk to that person you’ve been eyeing at the gym. Take a weekend trip to a city you’ve never visited. These smaller steps can build your confidence for bigger decisions down the road. The key is to shift your mindset from fear of failure to excitement about the possibility.

Imagine this scenario: You’re at a crossroads in your career. You have a steady job, but another opportunity arises that could either advance your career significantly or set you back. If you take the leap and it doesn’t work out, sure, you’ll feel the sting of failure. But think about the alternative—staying put and never knowing what might have been. Isn’t that uncertainty more unsettling?

Let's get personal for a moment. Remember that time in high school when you didn’t ask your crush to prom, and someone else did? That feeling of regret stuck with you longer than any potential rejection would have. Or think about the college class you almost didn’t take because it seemed too hard, but it ended up being your favorite course and shaped your career path. These are the moments that define us.

In the end, it’s about living a life full of experiences, not missed chances. Sure, you might fall flat on your face sometimes. We all do. But the stories you’ll have—the lessons you’ll learn—are priceless. Whether it’s a career move, a relationship, or even something as simple as trying a new dish at a restaurant, remember: It's better to regret what you did than what you didn’t do. So go ahead, take that leap. You’ll thank yourself later.