12 Ways to Avoid Regrets in Life
One of my favorite books and verses in the Bible is Psalms 90:12; Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
It simply means understanding that time flies and there are consequences for every decision made.
It quickens us to live a life of understanding, and seeking wisdom to guide us in all we do.
I believe everyone desires to always be on the right side when it’s time to account.
Question: Ever done something that you now look back on and wish you had done things differently?
Living like this daily can be tiring.
It’s not even good for our health, right?
I want my reflections to always be joyful, not filled with sadness.
I desire the same for you.
I believe that will safeguard your health. It preserves your life too because you are not in a hurry to leave the world and escape the regrets.
Your old age gets fulfilled as you share with your children, grandchildren, or the younger generation how you avoided regrets.
That’s our focus today.
Let’s go through the list to get an idea of some things we can do differently today to avoid regrets in life.
12 Ways to Avoid Regrets in Life
1. Weigh your options before making a decision
Some decisions are irreversible.
You want to weigh the options available to you before you cross the line.
As you are weighing the options, be as detailed and thorough as you can.
You should ask yourself: ‘Am I ready to live with the choice I make?’ Be comfortable with your decisions.
Remember it has the potential to also affect generations after you.
2. Always give your best
Give your best in all you do.
Have you heard the statement: to always leave on your high?
This applies mostly to the marketplace. It means to leave at your best and peak.
When you look back at the job and services you have offered, you should be able to smile and sleep peacefully.
Some people can be money-driven or driven by other agendas and they don’t pour their heart into their service.
That invites curses from people, and you lose potential clients and make losses in your business.
That person you give a quack service to can taint your name to others resulting in lost business.
3. Take your health seriously
The topic of health is exciting me and I am constantly equipping myself with as much knowledge as I can.
The aha moment for me was after I learned that most health issues can be solved by your diet.
Embrace a healthy lifestyle.
I recently watched a video on YouTube about a guy who was previously obese and had all manner of health issues.
All resulted from his diet.
Interestingly, he is an influential man who spoke and transformed the lives of the masses.
He took on the change to a healthy way of living and feeding after it dawned on him that he was not being a good steward of his body.
Things are looking up for him now. He looks, healthier, happier, and more fulfilled.
4. Invest in things that build you
This calls for us to be visionary and trains us for that.
Don’t be caught up in the moment and forget to invest in what is meaningful for you now and later.
Beware of peer pressure as you work on this.
Fun fact: the morning before writing this article someone reminded me that you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
The kind of investments those people are making begin to rub off on you.
If they are poor investments, you can guess what investments you make too.
5. Give without expecting to be paid back
One question I always ask before helping someone, especially financially is whether I am willing to lose the money.
I suggest the same to you. If the answer is no, you want to reconsider.
If it is yes, by all means, go ahead.
The danger of giving without responding to that question is you regret helping people.
Sadly some people are entitled and might never repay you. What happens then?
That damage can close you off from assisting people and I don’t want that for you.
6. Always do things as unto the Lord
Colossians 3:23-24 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others. For we know that we will receive a reward, an inheritance from the Lord, as we serve the Lord YAHWEH, the Anointed One!
This is almost similar to the second point.
If your reverence is God and are guided by the Christian principles from the Bible, have it in your mind that, God is your rewarder.
Have you noticed that it says “everything”?
Scary, right? I take that to mean from the least to the greatest thing you can do.
You will never regret doing things if that’s your mindset.
7. Pray and find peace before moving forward with the decision
Prayer is what should always precede decisions.
Unfortunately, it always comes last when we are in distress and regret.
Normalize taking time to pray before you engage in anything.
Let the peace of God that surpasses human understanding, be what guides you in those moments.
That way, when you no longer feel peaceful about that thing you are doing, your mindset will be that the season for it is over.
8. Save time and use it wisely
People regret how they spent their time in their earlier years.
I for one, regret not building a network and finding a part-time job while I was in Uni.
I listen to the younger generation who have taken those steps and I give them a heartfelt ‘Kudos!’
When you take care of your time, you guard the money. You actually make more money.
For instance, I have to work twice as hard to make up for lost time.
9. Don’t live life based on other people’s opinions
The regret that comes from this can be so damaging.
You need to be your own person, after a certain age of maturity, it’s beneficial to be independent with your decisions.
They compound to how your life turns out.
You don’t want to hold grudges against people later in life.
People have their opinions about whether you should have a car or not.
But the question remains: is it within your means and can you sustain it?
10. Apologize in good time
When you realize you’ve wronged someone, be quick to apologize.
Life is fleeting and you might not find them the next day to apologize.
Make amends quickly and move on.
It does not cost a thing, if anything you have less burden to carry.
Pride can be our undoing when it comes to apologizing. Take note of it and defeat it.
God desires that we seek forgiveness.
11. Make memories with the people you love
One thing I wish I had done with my late dad was to take selfies with him.
I would have had memories to carry around with me. But now I don’t.
What do you desire to do with the people you love?
Is it more road trips, camping, visiting, having meaningful conversations, checking up on them?
Do it today.
Tomorrow is not promised.
12. Take chances in life
Don’t regret not starting a business that has been on your mind since you finished high school.
Do it and learn from the outcomes instead of being a wishful thinker way later.
Plan and travel to that destination you are crazy about.
Go and make memories there.
Talk to your crush or the person you admire secretly.
We might just hear wedding bells two years from now.
You never know!
What else do you think should be on the list?