But the truth is different. Youre much more likely to have a Silver Emma moment than a Bronze Borghini one. When researchers have tracked peoples thoughts by asking them to keep daily diaries or by pinging them randomly to ask whats on their mind, theyve discovered that If Onlys outnumber At Leasts in peoples livesoften by a wide margin.[7] One study found that 80 percent of the counterfactuals people generate are If Onlys.

The Power of Regret by Daniel H. Pink