We all have something stored in our memory banks of the past that you wish you could have done differently, or didn’t do. As you get older you learn and grow, but that doesn’t mean you have to regret what you did before you learned how to do things differently. If you didn’t go through those experiences, you might not have grown into the knowledgeable person you are today.
“The saddest summary of life contains
three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.”
(Anonymous)
After a while, you come to realize just how fragile life is. None of us knows how long we will live so the best you can do is simply to exist as if you might die tomorrow. To live freely and fully seems rare these days, but those who do tend to not have regrets at the end of their life. Regrets usually come from unsaid words, unfulfilled dreams, unanswered questions, and unsettled fights with those you love. Here are ten ways to start living life with no regrets:
1. Be yourself-You hear this statement all the
time, but it is the truth. We have our own values, beliefs, personality traits,
and desires. When you deny any part of our authentic self, you die a little
death on the inside. Our uniqueness makes us who you are. By being true to
ourselves, you also give everyone else permission to do the same.
2. Follow your dream-So often, you are so busy trying to
live up to the expectations of others that you do not allow ourselves to follow
our own dream. Pursue the longings of your heart. When you ignore them, you
miss the opportunity to reach our full potential and experience that deep
fulfillment that following our dreams can offer.
3. Keep your work at work-Earning a living is important, but
not to the exclusion of other things. To fully participate in all aspects of
life, such as spending time with loved ones and enjoying meaningful activities,
you should leave work at work. Without a proper work/life balance, you miss out
on the things that are most important to us. When you reach the end of our
lives, it is not our work that matters, but the people you loved.
4. Let your loved ones know you love
them-The experience of love is one of the
best things in life. When you love someone, let both your words and actions be
loving. No one is promised tomorrow, so tell your loved ones each day how much
they mean to you. Not only will your relationships grow, but you will as well.
5. Practice forgiveness-At some point in life, you all have
been hurt. How you deal with that hurt is up to us. Some people stay stuck in
bitterness their entire lives and never move beyond the pain. By choosing to
forgive, we release ourselves from the grip of resentment and can move forward
in our lives.
6. Practice kindness-Intentional kindness is life-giving.
It works wonders in putting people at ease and improving relationships. A smile
or kind gesture can make someone's day brighter. Being kind is an easy practice
that enhances our own lives and the lives of others, whether you know them or
not.
7. Take life less seriously-Life is far too short to be spent
worrying about things that are beyond our control. Allow happiness and fun to
be part of your life each day. Being mindful and open to the good that is present
in all situations can help us not to take life so seriously and is a key
ingredient to having a more enjoyable life.
“There
are no regrets in life just lessons.” (Jennifer Aniston)
8. Take risks-Staying within our comfort zone may
be safe, but it is impossible to achieve greatness by living cautiously.
Identifying one way each day to move outside our familiar comfort zone will
help us take the risks needed to propel us forward and achieve a fuller, more
gratifying life.
9. Trust your gut instincts-Your intuition is your best source
of guidance. While rational decisions come from your thinking mind only, your
gut is that "all-knowing" part of you that if paid close attention to
and acted on, will never lead you astray. When you use logic as our primary
thinking mode, you miss many opportunities that our gut may have led us to.
10.
Turn
"failures" into stepping stones-Don't quit when you perceive you have failed. Instead, use
the experience to learn from and grow. It has been noted that Thomas Edison
failed 1000 times before he succeeded in creating the light bulb. Can you
imagine if he had he quit that we might still be living in the dark? A failure
is always a stepping stone in disguise.
It’s better to look back on life and say: “I can’t believe I did that”
than to look back and say: “I wish I did that.” (Zen
to Zany)[i]
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