5 Decisions You Will Regret Forever

I wanted to write this blog titled “5 Decisions You Will Regret Forever” because I know that we make decisions everyday but I think sometimes we make “short term” decisions because of current challenges but don’t realize the effect these have on our long term goals of what we want to ultimately achieve.

“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” –Stephen Covey

I read a recent article about a palliative care nurse and it hit me hard in the heart. STOP!  LIFE IS HAPPENING TODAY!

I feel that so many of us keep saying “one day”, “one day I will get started working out”.  “One day I will start my own business”.  “One day I will ask this person out”.  If you never get started, that “one day” will never happen!

Bronnie Ware spent her career as a palliative care nurse, working exclusively with people who were 3 to 12 months from death. She made a habit of asking them about their greatest regrets, and she heard the same five regrets time and time again. By studying these regrets, you can make certain that you make good choices and don’t fall victim to them yourself.

This was a great article from Travis Bradberry in Forbes Magazine:

#1 – They wish they hadn’t made decisions based on what other people think.

When you make your decisions based on other people’s opinions, two things tend to happen:

1. You make a poor career choice: There are too many people out there who studied for a degree they regret or even spent their lives pursuing a career they regret. Whether you’re seeking parental approval or pursuing pay and prestige over passion, making a poor career choice is a decision that will live with you forever.
2. You fail to uphold your morals: When you get too caught up in what your boss thinks of you, how much money you think your spouse needs to be happy, or how bad you will look if you fail, you are at high risk of violating your own morals. Your intense desire to make yourself look good compromises your ability to stay true to yourself and, ultimately, to feel good.

The best way to avoid falling prey to the opinions of others is to realize that other people’s opinions are just that—opinions. Regardless of how great or terrible they think you are, that’s only their opinion. Your true self-worth comes from within.

#2 – They wish they hadn’t worked so hard.

Working hard is a great way to impact the world, to learn, to grow, to feel accomplished, and sometimes even to find happiness, but it becomes a problem when you do so at the expense of the people closest to you. Ironically, we often work hard to make money for the people we care about without realizing that they value our company more than money. The key is to find a balance between doing what you love and being with the people you love. Otherwise you’ll look back one day and wish you’d focused more on the latter.

#3 – They wish they had expressed their feelings.

We’re taught as children that emotions are dangerous and that they must be bottled up and controlled. This usually works at first, but boxing up your feelings causes them to grow until they erupt. The best thing you can do is to put your feelings directly on the table. Though it’s painful to initiate, it forces you to be honest and transparent.

For example, if you feel as though you don’t make enough money at work, schedule a meeting with your boss and propose why you think you’re worth more. As a result, she will either agree with you and give you a raise or disagree and tell you what you do need to do to become more valuable. On the other hand, if you do nothing and let your feelings fester, this will hinder your performance and prevent you from reaching your goal.

#4 – They wish they had stayed in touch with their friends.

When you get caught up in your weekly routine, it’s easy to lose sight of how important people are to you, especially those you have to make time for. Relationships with old friends are among the first things to fall off the table when we’re busy. This is unfortunate because spending time with friends is a major stress buster. Close friends bring you energy, fresh perspectives, and a sense of belonging, in a way that no one else can.

#5 – They wish they had let themselves be happy.

When your life is about to end, all the difficulties you’ve faced suddenly become trivial compared to the good times. This is because you realize that, more often than not, suffering is a choice. Unfortunately, most people realize this far too late. Although we all inevitably experience pain, how we react to our pain is completely under our control, as is our ability to experience joy. Learning to laugh, smile, and be happy (especially when stressed) is a challenge at times, but it’s one that’s worth every ounce of effort.

My Conclusion:

Don’t wait to live your life to the fullest.  Most people have things backwards.  They think “as soon as I make more money, I can be happy and live the life I want”.

WRONG!

The truth is “If I am happy and living life to the fullest I make more money”!  Happy attracts Happy.  You attract what you feel and the vibrations you give to others.  Start living your life with passion and design the life you would love to live and watch how it starts to manifest in your experiences.

I want so much love and happiness in this world and even when people think I am weird and cuckoo for believing in “energy” and “vibrations”….I won’t stop believing and sharing this with others.  I hope I inspire 1 person daily to not give up.  To keep pushing forward towards their dreams!

If you have enjoyed “5 Decisions You Will Regret Forever” and find this valuable content, please comment and share with others.  Thanks!

Today is the Perfect Day to Be YOUR DAY!

So much love,