6 Crucial Principles to Avoid Living a Regretful Life

Regrets are an inevitable part of life for most of us. However, they shouldn’t and they don’t have to. If you can understand — and apply — these 6 rules to your life then you can greatly minimise both the time being regretful and the reasons for being regretful in the first place. And I wish for you to avoid a regretful life. First of, let’s add some brief context to what most people regret, and then we’ll get on to the 6 principles that will address these and help you live a more meaningful and “#noregrets life”.

As people approach their final stages of life, the majority of regrets people express revolves around:

• “I wish I spent more time with the people who matter the most”
• “I wish I had been a better spouse/parent/child”
• “I wish I had spent less time working”
• “I wish I had invested more time in the things that make me happy and enjoyed life more”
• “I wish I had taken more risks”

With this in mind, here are the 6 key principles we ought to follow to avoid a regretful life:

1. View Your Mistakes Differently

We all make mistakes whether we like it or not. However, missteps are often a critical part of learning and growth. Moreover, regardless of how horrible the mishap may be; if you are still breathing, you can get back up, develop, and succeed in spite of it.

Mistakes are only truly detrimental if they are not followed up with reflection and self-analysis. Why did you choose the path you did? Did you ignore advises? Most importantly, what are you going to do to correct this — and so forth.

Get a habit of looking at and embracing your mistakes as opportunities for growth.

3 Reasons Why Mistakes Are Good | Empowher

5 Reasons Why Making Mistakes is a Good Thing for Your Career | Winter Wyman

Learn the best strategies to let go of the small things. To is often much easier said than done. But doing so can be immensely important, and therefore the extra effort to do so is definitely worth it.

We live in a world that propels forward at a tremendous pace. At times we barely keep up with one thing before we are onto the next.

We all ought to learn how to slow down and be fully attentive to what is occurring around us. Regardless of what stage you are in your life, enjoy your time, fully immerse yourself in the experience, and live in the moment.

In so saying, you should of course not abandon long-term plans and wander aimlessly through life. Because, goals are a vital part of your future success, but enjoying the journey is a crucial part of living.

The Art of Now: Six Steps to Living in the Moment | Psychology Today

Quotes About Live In The Moment | Good Read

3. Focus on You, Not About What

If you treasure who you are above what you do, what you do will have a much greater impact and be more meaningful in the end. Simply put, being loving, kind, hard-working and honest will make whatever you are doing a success. Your actions are overwhelmingly a reflection of who you are on the inside and will flow naturally with very little thought. Good people do good things and have very few regrets.

Is Your Focus Within or On Others? | Huffington Post

Stop Comparing Yourself To Others And Focus On You — Here’s How | Forbes

4. Spend Your Time Wisely

Every person on earth has a limited amount of time. Time is not something you can buy, earn or manufacture more of. When it is your time, you will go — as simple as that. It is the most precious commodity on earth. Therefore, live your life with purpose, do what matters to you, bring joy and impact your environment in a positive matter. This a key factor to avoid a regretful life.

Spend time with those who matter. Not spending enough time with loved ones is often the major regret expressed by people. Don’t do the same mistake.

40 Ways to Use Time Wisely | Tiny Buddha

5 Qualities of People Who Use Time Wisely | Success

5. Live intentionally

There is a big difference between living and existing. As I put it in my valedictorian speech two years ago: We all have a lot of things to live with — but what do we live for?

Those who live take risks, make mistakes, experience pains and fail often, but they have very few regrets. Often, we cannot control or choose things that happen to us, but we can choose how we respond to it. It is all under your control. You dictate the overall tone and tenor of your life.

Throw caution aside and choose to live on and with purpose. You won’t regret it.

The Helpful Guide to Living an Intentional Life | Becoming Minimalist

5 Ways to Live More Intentionally | No Side Bar

6. Avoid a regretful life: Have a Bucket List and Use it!

All of the 5 principles mentioned so far should culminate in a bucket list. Just think about it; if you’re going to live intentionally and in the moment and spend your time wisely, and avoid a regretful life, then you ought to become clear about what you really want in life — and you need to actively go out and about to achieve those life goals.

Note that your bucket list should not just revolve around travels and activities, but rather around everything in your life ranging from family, career, good deeds, milestones and so much more. To get started, read my  The Ultimate Bucket List Resource Guide and for inspiration check out my 1000+ Bucket List.

PSST! And oh, do remember that a majority of regrets revolve around what we didn’t do — as opposed to what we did do. With that in mind, never let fear etc. inhibit your goals and aspirations.

So, there you go. Finished. What do you reckon? Any other principles that you think would be important in living a life without regrets? Let me hear it.