After living on this planet for a while, you come to realize just how fragile and fleeting life truly is. None of us truly knows just how long we have here, so the best we can do is simply to live as if we might die tomorrow. To live freely and fully seems rare these days, but those who do tend to not have regrets at the end of their life. Regrets usually come from unsaid words, untouched dreams, and unsettled fights with those we love.
“There are no regrets in life, just lessons.” – Jennifer Aniston
However, what if you could reach the end of your life and honestly say that you lived with no regrets? What if you left no stone unturned, no dream unfulfilled, and no question unanswered?
Here are 5 ways to live without regrets:
1. Follow your heart no matter what.
Many people regret not going after their dreams when they mull over their life experiences. If your heart wants something unattainable or farfetched, follow it anyway. Take the path less traveled anyway because no one knows what you truly want except you. Your heart would never lie to you or lead you down the wrong path, so listen to it. Your intuition and subconscious are potent tools for giving your life direction, so heed their call. This way, even if your plans don’t turn out as you expected, and you have to turn around and start over, at least you can say you gave your dreams a fair shot. At least you can say you faced your fears and didn’t let them hold you back.
2. Live life on the edge with no worries or regrets.
Don’t worry so much about staying inside the lines and following the rules. Take risks sometimes, be daring, and be a rebel. Life becomes more meaningful and rewarding when you can leave behind inhibitions and embrace the wild side. At the end of your life, you will regret what you didn’t do, not what you did. So, what do you have to lose? Buy a plane ticket to your favorite country, leave the job you hate, tell people you love them, and eat that slice of chocolate cake if you want it. Your life = your rules.
3. Let your true self shine through.
Too many people live shackled to other people’s opinions of them. They want to please everyone, so they disappoint themselves by attempting to do so. Remember that you only have to worry about loving and pleasing yourself; the right people will manifest themselves when you stay true to your heart. Whatever your message, could you not hold it back? Your existence tells a story, so what do you want to say to the world? How do you want to present yourself to the person looking back at you in the mirror? Make yourself proud, and live by your truth. Nothing else matters but what you think about yourself.
4. Love as hard as possible and as often as possible.
Imagine how different our world would look if everyone gave love openly and freely. People wouldn’t live so much in fear and wouldn’t allow their walls to block out compassion and true love. It does take time and practice to become so vulnerable and willing to accept and give love, but with some dedication, you can master the idea of unconditional love. First, you must accept and love yourself before you can do the same for others. When we talk about giving and receiving love, we also mean self-love and self-acceptance.
Many people fear what will happen when they wear their hearts on their sleeves, but even if someone breaks your heart, nothing feels worse than locking your love away and throwing away the key. Don’t be selfish with your love; the world could use much more of it.
5. Don’t worry about things out of your control.
Please don’t allow your mind to obsess over everything that could go wrong in life; come back to the present moment, and lose yourself in it. Anxiety occurs when we give our minds permission to run wildly like a kid in a candy store; we must put our feet down and not allow this behavior. Regrets will only destroy your happiness, and make you feel powerless and weak. You own your mind, body, and soul, so focus solely on developing yourself. Leave everything else alone, and you will live a much more peaceful, joyous life.
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