The phrase “if only…” is normally one associated with deep regret, and that’s why it’s incredibly sad when we feel compelled to say it. To avoid having to utter those fateful words, I’ve made a list of 10 bad life choices that ultimately lead to this phrase of regret, as well as how to avoid them:
1. Wearing a mask in front of others
It’s a big mistake to always think about other people’s perceptions of you and trying to play up to them, as opposed to just being yourself. If you continuously focus on this, rather than being who you really are, the end result will be that one fine day, you will forget who you are beneath the mask you always try to uphold. Forget about who people want you to be, or how they see you – impress them and inspire them with how you deal with your imperfections instead.
2. Letting others create your dreams
Although the greatest life challenge is the sound discovery of who you really are, the second greatest is finding happiness and peace with yourself. You should always stay true to your own goals and dreams to find happiness and peace. If people disagree with you, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it just means you’re standing your own ground and finding your own way. Don’t worry about whether people think you’re doing something crazy. When you find yourself excitedly losing track of time, you’ll know in your heart that you’re on the right path.
3. Keeping the company of negative people
Negative people are best avoided, because they can foist their bad attitudes on you, and even get to you. Remember that keeping the company of negative people is a choice, not an obligation. Once you realize this and begin to keep it in mind, you will open up your world to compassion over anger, generosity over greed, and patience over anxiety.
A life that revolves around selfish pursuits and egotism is not a life well-lived. You will be remembered by what you have done for others and the world at large, rather than what you have done for yourself. Be selfless, compassionate and try and give back whenever and wherever you can.
5. Avoidance of change and growth
If you want to know why your life is the way it is, take a look at your past. If you want to know how your future’s going to be, take a look at your actions in the present. You should always leave room in your life for the old to make way for the new. As much as we all like to hold on to that which we know, the truth is that the old is gone, and isn’t coming back. Accepting this fundamental reality and embracing change as it comes will set you up for lasting success.
6. Giving up during tough times
Whenever we fail in life, we should take it as a blessing. This is because failures act as indicators that we need to try something else. What failures do not indicate is the necessity to give up on what we’re setting out to achieve. Learn what you can from a failure and move on. One baby step at a time is what will get you ahead in life. Eventually, these baby steps build on top of each other and lead to our most glorious and defining moments.
7. Attempting to micro-manage everything
There’s plenty of truth to the notion of creating your own destiny, however this doesn’t mean that you incessantly have to worry about and control everything. Letting go a little will allow you to gain perspective. Once you can see the forest for the trees again, it’s time to take the next step forward. Remember that you don’t always have to be certain that you’re headed somewhere great. Occurrences in life happen in perfect order, regardless of whether you understand that or not. As time goes by in our lives, we all come to understand this principle and see how all the dots are connected.
8. Settling for less than you are deserving of
You should always make it a priority in life to let go of what no longer serves you. Sometimes we need to be floored by a bad relationship or other situation, as hitting rock bottom can actually be the springboard we need for us to stand taller than we ever did before. The tears we cry can sometimes clear our eyes so we can see the possibilities that lie in front of us. Remember not to settle for anything less than you deserve.
9. Forever waiting for tomorrow
We all know life is short, but it’s actually even shorter than you think. If you’re forever waiting for tomorrow, the window for you to do all the things you’ve always wanted to do will silently close, and by the time you realize it has, it will be too late. The choice is yours – do you want to look back on what you’ve achieved with pride, or do you want to make a whole myriad of excuses for the things you haven’t?
10. Not being assertive and waiting for things to happen
