IF I HAD IT TO DO OVER, I WOULD'VE
EATEN MORE ICE CREAM...REALLY????
LOOKING BACK IN ORDER TO LOOK FORWARD
LOOK BACK FIRST, THEN CHOOSE
"Hindsight is 20-20." We all have heard that.
Looking forward is a bit less clear.
But if people have followed paths that didn't work and it's obvious that is what applies to virtually all human beings, isn't it rather "unsmart" to not pay attention to the lesson.
You can use those lessons to predict what your future will be like if you
1. Don't choose certain higher paths and goals and behaviors
2. Continue to do what doesn't work or won't work for the future.
3. Don't do something that would work for a better life.
There are only a dozen or so major ones, with virtually all meaningful ones included in the top 20. That means you only have 20 decisions to make about how to live a better life. Then you would, of course, given your objectives, fill in and learn all the details necessary to achieve those.
SOME OF WHAT WE BUY INTO MAKES NO SENSE
We often make conclusions about life and its meaning that are not logical nor well-thought out.
The famous quote "I wouldn've eaten more ice cream..." might result in somebody thinking they should pleasure themselves with the likes of good tasting things.
But perhaps it really means "I wouldn't have worried so much. I would've done more of what I wanted, been more of who I am, experienced life more."
Mostly it means "if I would have thought alot more about it and reflected on it, I might have been able to design a better, more fulfilling life."
Kevin Hall, in his book Aspire (a good read with quite a bit of inspiration and aspiration), takes excerpts from Dr. Gerald Hill's book The Achievers did a study of 4,000 retired executives. At an average age of 70, they wrote on the question of "what they would do differently if they could live their lives over again." "They responded with deep remorse for not having a better plan for their life."
I would have "carved out life goals and owned my life." "I would have spent more time on personal development." "I would have planned my career better."
Amen!
WE "KNOW OF" THESE ALL, SO WHY DON'T WE CHOOSE TO DO THE OPPOSITE?
While yes, people would have had more fun that really meant they would have been less in a tither about life and done more of what was meaningful - been with (and contributed to, in most cases) family, loved ones, friends. They would have worked more on being happy and knowing how to run their lives in an enlightened, more wise way. And with many, many, they would have contributed (and served) more.
Check off which of these you will live to regret if you don't change your path. Put an "C" next to the ones you will change
I wish I would have more carefully chosen what to have and do in my life, so it would have been more.
I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. (That means that getting the approval of others was not quite as important as they had thought.)
I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings - and not suppressed them in order to keep peace with others.
I wish I'd expressed what I really wanted and asked for what was good for me. Often, wishing they hadn't spend their lives in bitterness and resentment.
From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.
I wish I didn’t work so hard - and miss so much of my young children's lives, time with my spouse, time with good friends, contributing to and serving others to help them have a better life.
I wish that I had let myself be happier.
...hadn't settled for a mediocre existence.
... hadn't watch so much tv
...had stayed in touch with friends, especially old ones.
...hadn't worried so much what others thought of me
...had a job in what I really loved
...not taken life so seriously
...taken more trips
...have had friends who were more supportive and progressive and accomplished...
...not taking care of my health
...been a better parent...
...not playing a team sport
...bit drunk so much, get so wasted, not have done drugs...
...not wasted my money on meaningless stuff
...been prepared for marriage, not married too soon, spent more time selecting a mate
...would have learned to be a better partner
...learned how not to argue or react
...not slept with others, breaking my vows, dishonoring who I was with
...learned how to be happier
..hadn't been a reckless spender
...been better off financially
...spent more time with my parents
...had a better education
...I wish I would have had more of a life before having children
been more prepared and wiser with my children..
...been emotionally smarter and mastered them...
...been more grateful about life
