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How do I know if I did the right thing?

280 Answers
Last Updated: 05/25/2022 at 8:57pm
How do I know if I did the right thing?
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Lauren Abasheva, LMHC

Licensed Professional Counselor

A sex positive, and kink knowledgeable therapist with an open mindset and a clear understanding that we are all different.

Top Rated Answers
Sanaa99
May 2nd, 2018 10:48am
When you do the right thing you will fell a peace of mind a nd comforts and you know that is the right for you
Vivian4
May 2nd, 2018 9:57pm
When you the the thing what is right for yourself, u feel better afterwards, even deep down. If you feel worse after you have done it, it wasn’t a right time.
Robinzoo
May 5th, 2018 3:24pm
We don't ever know if we did the right thing until it is done. We can't dwell on the past, but we can try to correct our mistake by either try to solve the issue in another way or accept what it is and try to move on.
BrandonCares1074
May 6th, 2018 6:29pm
You could ask friends or family that you trust what they would do in that situation and if they feel you did the right thing.
Anonymous
May 7th, 2018 10:32pm
You don’t feel any guilt or symptoms of regret, you don’t overthink the decision and it feels natural to do a certain thing , that can be a sign of doing the right thing.
StevenFord
May 10th, 2018 3:10pm
In your heart to you believe you gave it your best shot at that time with the information available to you? If so then you did. Looking back we can judge ourselves and say "Oh i should have done this or not done that" but knowing you did your best at the time is all that matters. If you feel that you didn't do your best, forgive yourself! Mistakes teach us to be better.
ChromeSmile17
May 11th, 2018 8:34am
That is a tricky question. The thing is, you won't know until you see the outcome.. as humans, we have 20/20 hindsight.. we learn from our mistakes, so you will know what to do through trial and error.
gracefulWorld
May 26th, 2018 3:33pm
You will know if you’ve done the right thing you trust you’re instinct. But some things may be wrong and that’s okay we just need to try again and do it the right way. There is plenty of room for mistake:)
Anonymous
June 10th, 2018 2:19am
If you feel in your guts that what you have done was wrong it might hurt, but i think if you take a good decision you will overthink it to unimaginable point
katawosuu
June 13th, 2018 1:27am
I feel that knowing what is right is usually a natural thing, an instinctual thing if you will. However, the lines between right and wrong tend t be blurred by the fact that the right choice isn't always the easiest. Whenever I question myself as to whether I did the right thing, I ask myself if, despite a negative outcome, I would do it all over again. This is helpful to me, at least.
CalmWhisper22
June 14th, 2018 1:14am
Can You Look Yourself in the Mirror?: You have to be able to live with yourself and your actions. If you know that you can wake up the next day and look yourself in the mirror and feel content with what you have done, you are making the right decision. If you think you’ll feel a little embarrassed, ashamed, unsure or regretful, then you are probably making a bad decision. Trust Your Gut: The old intuition tactic is tried and true. Very few of us lack a conscience or don’t carry guilt or remorse from doing something wrong or “unethical.” Healthy-minded human-beings have the ability to decipher right from wrong, and when something doesn’t sit well or seems questionable, it is most likely because intuition and the gut know better. Physical Test: When we make good decisions that are ethical, we are at peace. It is only when we make poor decisions which we know are unethical do we suffer physical stress. Some symptoms may be a sick stomach, a headache or even chest pains. Good decisions allow our minds and our bodies to relax. Sleep Test: Don’t ever estimate the ability to get a good night sleep. When we live ethically and feel good about how we live our lives and the choices we make, sleep is much easier. When we make bad choices, they keep us up at night. They eat away at us and they make it difficult to be at peace. Think about whether or not you will lie awake at night worrying about your decision. If you tense up just thinking about it, you probably have your answer!
Yvan4
June 20th, 2018 11:47pm
Generally if you feel better about yourself in the long run. To explain in more depth though if what you did was beneficial for everyone involved including yourself without including physical or mental harm to anyone than it’s generally considered the best course of action. If not that and it’s an incredibly complex issue it would be the choice which leads to the least amount of harm to anyone both physically and mentally.
SmilesAllAround12
June 22nd, 2018 4:17am
I ask myself this question a lot. The answer that I always tell myself is that I did what i believed was right and what I believed was best for me at the time. We can't go back and change our choices, but we can trust ourselves that we knew what we needed right then
Anonymous
June 29th, 2018 6:24pm
There's never just one right thing to do. And even when we do what may be considered the most "right", we tend to question ourselves. Trust your ability to make good decisions and try to be kind to yourself if you make a mistake or two.
DianaBun
July 6th, 2018 11:55pm
Listen to your heart! If you feel like you did good thing, you should feel nice and happy about it!!
Anonymous
July 7th, 2018 4:20am
It is a gut feeling that you get. You will feel it and your body will tell you whether you made the right decision or not. Always trust your gut.
lexisspace
July 8th, 2018 4:43pm
Our guy sometimes tells us that we have done the right thing and it's as simple as that, but if you're really questioning it, there may be a chance that you didn't. But in the long run, maybe you just need reassurance. Can you justify, with good reason, what you did?? Why did you do what you did? These are safe questions to ask yourself in this situation.
Darksaviour04
July 13th, 2018 5:30pm
Right and wrong are just our own opinions and perceptions. If what you did is right it will instantly give you some sort of peace or satisfaction but if you overthink it and ask others repeatedly then the same thing can make you anxious and feel wrong so just trust your decision.
UncerTom12
July 23rd, 2018 6:24pm
When you're lying in bed at night with nothing to distract you does it feel right or wrong? That's your answer.
Anonymous
July 25th, 2018 2:28am
That's a difficult answer to get sometimes, because the right thing may not always be the "right thing" for everyone involved. Getting out of toxic relationships is always the right thing to do, but the person you're getting away from might say you're in the wrong. Standing up for yourself is the right thing. Looking at the reactions of others sometimes makes things confusing and you have to wonder if you really did do the right thing. The best way to know is this: are you a better person because of your actions? Did you save yourself some trouble, are you happier because of it? Do you feel relieved in a sense now that you've done it? Consider that...
Anonymous
July 25th, 2018 4:58am
You feel it in your gut. Guilt is real and that’s when you know you’ve done something wrong, so trust your instincts.
Anonymous
July 26th, 2018 7:56pm
I know we often search for the right and wrong in how we think, speak, and act. Sometimes this can be a frustrating process because we are searching for an answer that can change between people depending on values, beliefs, norms, etc. It is important to evaluate your heart and mind as well as how that action shaped your life. Whether or not it was right, the choice has been made and you can only move forward. If you decide it was the right choice then keep going positively. If you decide it is the wrong choice, remember that everyone makes mistakes and you have a full life ahead of you so don't get too discouraged. Mistakes are learning experiences so learn from the action and strive to do better if you run into the problem again. Love yourself but strive to make better decisions each day!
CLMarshal57
July 26th, 2018 8:37pm
If you feel good about your decision. Sometimes, doing the right thing isn't always an easy choice. But if you can look back on it and know that what you chose was the right choice to make in the moment, then you did fine.
Bluelight33
July 29th, 2018 2:56pm
How do you feel after doing? Did you reach your goal? Without unjustified behavior to others? If you can answer all this with yes, I would say the right thing is done. What would you say? :)
phosphenerelief
August 2nd, 2018 9:26pm
We can't always do the right thing - as different responses are right to different people. But as long as you have done something after carefully considering your intention, its impact on yourself and others and are acting in a way that does not cause unnecessary or avoidable hurt, then it can be regarded as the right thing.
Anonymous
August 3rd, 2018 3:43pm
Look at your self in the mirror and ask your self if your happy and saticfid? The dicision you've made, impacts your life and people's life on a good way ? Does it feel good ? If the answer is yes then yes you did the right thing
SugarMoon34
August 8th, 2018 9:32pm
personally I think that we have to trust that we made the right decision for ourselves at the time. if it was a different time, say a year down the line, maybe would do things differently, but right here right now, we choose what is best for us
YourCaringConfidant
August 15th, 2018 3:56am
You know you did the right thing if you struggled to do it. Like really struggled. I have always been told that the right thing to do is the hardest thing to do... it is so easy to do the wrong thing.
SelfCareSally
August 15th, 2018 2:12pm
It's always the right thing to be present and listen. There's so many people who don't have that support - let just being there for them be enough :)
DipityEnigma
September 1st, 2018 6:28pm
This question is pretty vague but I'll try to help you with this as much as possible. Depending upon the situation, you will feel uncertainty such as this but if you truly feel as though you've done the wrong thing, then perhaps it would help to write out the pro's and con's of what you've done or said. Write down what the outcome of the situation is or could result in from what you've done/said. Write out what you could have done/said instead. Now, look at what you've written and decide whether or not you think you done the right thing or whether you could have handled the situation differently for a more positive outcome. Hope this helps.