Let It Go to Grow: How New Thought Masters Teach Us to Deal with Regret
A practical and spiritual guide to transforming regret, featuring wisdom from Neville Goddard, Louise Hay, Ernest Holmes, Florence Scovel Shinn, and others
“Man is not punished for his sin, but by it.”
—Ernest Holmes
Regret can feel like a heavy anchor on the soul. It creeps into quiet moments and turns them bitter. It loops thoughts of missed chances, harsh words, or roads not taken. For many, regret is a wound that keeps bleeding.
But in the New Thought tradition, regret isn’t seen as inevitable or even necessary. It is, instead, a signal, an opportunity to awaken, to course-correct, and to reclaim your spiritual power.
From Neville Goddard to Louise Hay, New Thought’s most influential teachers have offered clear, compassionate, and practical guidance for transforming regret into renewed consciousness. What follows is both a philosophical exploration and a step-by-step guide rooted in their timeless wisdom.
Regret as a Misuse of the Mind
Neville Goddard taught that the imagination is the most powerful force in our lives. He believed that to dwell on past mistakes is to remain shackled to an old state of consciousness.
“Change your conception of yourself and you will automatically change the world in which you live.” —Neville Goddard
To Goddard, regret is not just unpleasant—it is creative in the worst way. Thinking about what you should have said, done, or avoided only keeps you aligned with failure. His solution was the “revision technique,” a form of active imagination that allows you to rewrite a past event in your mind and, in doing so, rewire your inner state.
Try This
Each night before bed, replay a regrettable moment from your day.
Imagine it going differently. Choose the outcome you wish had happened.
See it clearly and feel gratitude for this new outcome.
Fall asleep in that state.
Regret as Resistance to the Now
Eckhart Tolle reframes regret as mental resistance to the present moment. Regret is living in the past and trying to change what cannot be changed through thought alone.
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.” —Eckhart Tolle
The antidote isn’t to fight regret but to observe it without judgment, from a place of presence.
Try This
When a regretful thought arises, don’t follow the story.
Say, “A thought of regret is here.”
Bring your focus to your breath or a physical sensation.
Watch the thought pass like a cloud in the sky.
Regret as a Call for Alignment
Ernest Holmes, founder of the Science of Mind philosophy, emphasized that the past has no power except what we give it.
“Today is a fresh beginning. What you are going to be, you are now becoming.” —Ernest Holmes
Holmes saw regret as a misunderstanding of spiritual law, not a moral failure. When you align with Truth and Love, the past is dissolved in the healing power of the present.
Try This
Affirm daily: “I am one with Infinite Intelligence. I am not my past. I am becoming the fullness of who I truly am.”
Use spiritual mind treatment (affirmative prayer) to realign with Divine Truth.
Reflect: What lesson is this regret offering me?
Regret as an Error in Belief
Florence Scovel Shinn believed that regret blocks the flow of good. Her teachings focused on affirming the truth even when appearances suggest failure or loss.
“I now wipe out all past mistakes and wrong thinking. I forgive everyone. I am at peace with myself and with the whole world.” —Florence Scovel Shinn
Try This
Speak aloud: “I deny the past. I affirm the present. My future is filled with light.”
Affirm: “There are no lost opportunities in Divine Mind. I cannot lose what belongs to me by right of consciousness.”
Regret and the Subconscious Mind
Joseph Murphy saw the subconscious as a neutral servant. Whatever you impress upon it—whether regret or joy—it will reproduce.
“Your subconscious mind does not argue with you. It accepts what your conscious mind believes.” —Joseph Murphy
Try This
Before sleep or upon waking, say slowly: “I forgive myself. I release the past. I accept peace and abundance now.”
Use visualization to see yourself at peace, surrounded by light.
Feel the emotion of release. Anchor it in your body.
Regret and Self-Forgiveness
Louise Hay focused much of her work on healing inner wounds through self-love and forgiveness.
“I forgive myself for not being perfect. I am living the very best way I know how.” —Louise Hay
Try This
Stand in front of a mirror. Look into your own eyes. Say:
“I love you. I forgive you. You did the best you could with what you knew.”Repeat this every day.
Don’t skip it when it feels hard—that’s when it matters most.
Regret as a Phase in Spiritual Growth
Emmet Fox taught that mistakes are part of the unfolding process of divine evolution.
“There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer.” —Emmet Fox
Try This
Ask: “What did this experience teach me?”
Write it down.
Offer it up in gratitude, not shame.
Be honest without being cruel to yourself.
Final Thoughts: Regret Is a Choice
Regret may feel real, but it is a mental habit, not a life sentence. New Thought teachers agree: you are not your past. You are the consciousness that chooses what story to tell, what meaning to give, and what direction to take next.
Whether you use imagination (Neville), presence (Tolle), affirmation (Shinn), prayer (Holmes), or mirror work (Hay), the message is the same: you have the power to release regret and step into a future shaped by love, awareness, and self-compassion.
📚 Further Reading
The Power of Awareness by Neville Goddard
The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes
Your Word Is Your Wand by Florence Scovel Shinn
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
The Sermon on the Mount by Emmet Fox
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle