Not Regret These 6 Things in Life
Don’t let your brain decide against your heart’s wishes
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You don’t regret things you do.
You regret the things you don’t do.
Life becomes simpler when you understand these confusing lines.
I’ve hurt people. I’ve ghosted, abused, and insulted people. I have talked behind people’s backs. I don’t regret those actions because I was hurt too. But, I regret not making peace.
I let my ego get the best of me. And those are the real regrets.
I didn’t take that chance. I didn’t tell my loved ones how much I cared.
I also didn’t pursue my passions initially. I let fear dictate my life instead of living with an intention.
Sure, there are things we did wrong in the past. But those are usually the things that don’t define us. It’s the things we don’t do that haunt us later on.
Out of a zillion things you won’t regret doing, I highlight the 5 most important ones.
1. Creating a Life You Enjoy Living
Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?
If you’re cognizant of it and live accordingly, you’re living a fulfilled life.
Throughout my life, I’ve made many decisions based on what other people thought. I chose friends, careers, and hobbies based on what made other people happy.
But then I realized I was alone and empty.
I was always trying to please others and meet their expectations. I wasn’t living my life for myself. I was living a life of lies.
So I decided to make decisions based on what would make me happy.
I quit my job, even though it was stable and well-paying. I ignored all the criticism and curses people hurled at me. I became a full-time content creator and started my own business, even though it was a huge risk.
And you know what? It was the best decision I ever made for my mental health. I’ve never been happier.
I’m now surrounded by people who love and support me. I have a career that I’m passionate about. And I spend my free time doing things that make me happy.
Don’t let anyone else control your life. Do what makes you happy, even if it’s not the conventional or popular choice. You’ll never regret it.
2. Saying “Yes” to Opportunities, Even if You’re Scared
Living alone is the best thing I’ve said “Yes” to.
When I decided to pursue Masters in Canada, I had the option to pick the University near my sister’s place or live on my own.
I chose the latter, and it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made for social growth.
Even though I was scared at first, living alone has taught me so much about myself and helped me become independent. It also made me more appreciative of my own company.
When you say yes, even if you’re scared, you permit yourself to fail or fly. You grow. You learn. You become more confident in yourself and your abilities.
There may be some risks associated with saying “yes” to new opportunities. But those risks are usually worth taking, especially when you weigh the potential rewards.
3. Saying No
“NO” — It’s a complete sentence.
No doesn’t require clauses, ifs, buts, maybe, etc.
No is No!
“Half of the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon enough.”
Saying yes to everything taught me the importance of no. I agreed to plans I didn’t want to do, commitments I couldn’t keep, and unreasonable requests.
Losing sanity and deteriorating mental health forced me to say no. I craved death every day for being overcommitted. So, I’ve learned it the hard way.
Jobs, friends, colleagues, family — nothing matters when it comes to mental health. You can live without anyone. Seriously, you can. But without a peaceful mind, life isn’t a life.
Saying “no” allows you to set boundaries and protect your time and energy. It will enable you to choose what you want to do and commit to important things.
It’s not rude or selfish. It’s empowering. It also allows you to find genuine people who have your best interests at heart.
So don’t be afraid to say “no” when necessary. Without any conditions.
4. Staying true to your goals and dreams.
Never allow others to dictate your direction and dreams in life. If people disagree with your path in life then, by all means, listen to their point of view, then review your reasons for doing what you’re doing, and continue. You’ll be learning to stand your own ground, walk your own path, and become stronger in doing so.
5. Being honest and loyal
Honesty and loyalty are part of being a good person in your relationships with others and your self-image.
Moreover, honesty and loyalty are admirable qualities that will benefit you in the long run.
If you’re honest and loyal to others, they’ll be more likely to trust you, and you’ll never have to worry about their opinions of your behavior or work ethic ever again.
Being honest with yourself is just as important as being honest with other people.
Admitting when you’re wrong, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and acknowledging that there’s room for improvement.
All these things can improve your relationships and satisfaction with yourself and confidence in life.
So don’t be afraid of making honest mistakes — embrace them and learn from them!
6. Learning new skills
You’ll never regret learning a new skill, even if it’s complicated. Learning and improving your abilities will increase not only your self-worth but also the way you perceive yourself.
You’ll find that improving a skill will benefit your future and your life in general.
And, never forget that as long as you’re learning something new and challenging yourself — even when the process is frustrating or difficult — then you deserve to pat yourself on the back for making an effort.
So, learn a new skill. Take a class. Read a book.
Learn something from YouTube, or even teach yourself how to do it if you can’t find someone to help you out.
The more skills that you possess, the better off your life will be.