Why do I constantly wonder about what could have been?

Many people do this! It's very normal. I think often this is something that people undergoing pivotal moments in their life wonder about. It's natural to wonder what would happen had you chosen a different path. Sometimes it helps to remember that people make different decisions at different points in their lives. It doesn't mean anyone is better or lesser, it just means that they're different. When you encounter a crossroads, you have to choose. When times are hard, or you're feeling low, it's easy to imagine that another decision might have made a difference. It's normal, and it's all part of being human. The important thing is that you accept the decisions you have made, and make changes as you need to in your current situation. If the wondering turns into worry, and is consuming, it might be time to talk about it, either on 7Cups, or with a health professional.

The hardest thing to do is to let go of the past and move to the future. But always remember that while you are busy holding on to the past you might miss out a lot in the future.

Your mind is focused on the past. In the present, you focus on what you have and what you can do for the future and less of what 'could have been'.

I think that it is normal and perfectly reasonable to wonder, worry, and reminisce about your future. Especially at a crossroads in life like with a former partner, old job, University choice, or another town. There is nothing wrong with a reasonable amount of wondering and it is perfectly healthy. If your wondering is affecting your daily life then its probably not healthy anymore, because it sounds like you could be really hung up on a possible future. It might be helpful to connect with a listener and talk about mindfulness and accepting your emotions to feel more comfortable with the here and now.

I think about this very often myself! I find that I live with a feeling that's not strong enough to be labeled "regret," but there is always a bit of wonder about how life would have gone if I had done certain things differently. At the end of the day I think what makes it easier to focus on the "now" instead of the "what if" is acknowledging what we are currently grateful for -- yes, there are things that could have been, but what is it about the right now that makes it special and important for us to be here? And that's not always easy! A few months ago I started a gratitude journal, where I write down five things I am grateful for each night before bed. It's been really helpful!