10 Things You’ll Regret Not Doing Now In Ten Years

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With each day comes an opportunity to make meaningful life decisions. Life is a journey and its smoothness is largely dependent on the decisions we make. Now and again, we are presented with the opportunity of making decisions that would affect our lives in one way or the other; it is only fair that we make good use of this opportunity by making good decisions.

Today, many swim in the pool of ignorance and blindly make irrational decisions. These decisions might seem to be the best at the moment but at the end of the day, they end in sadness.

The beauty of life can be deceiving and we can get carried away by temporary pleasures but the saddest part of life scenario is that these irrationally-taken decisions would lead to lifetime regrets. However, with a priori information about sensitive topics like this, we are more likely to make wiser choices about our present lifestyles.

Your decision today would play a big role in defining your future and jeopardizing it on the altar of ignorance, exuberance, carelessness or frivolities would only make you feel like a failure in a few years. Being intentional about your decisions is the easiest way to curb regrets.

The last thing you want to do is to get 10 years into the future and look back with regrets, desperately wishing you could turn back the hands of time so you can make more rational decisions.

Although, differences in emotional and physical makeup can cause humans to differ in decision making. However, there are general decisions that everyone must make at certain points in their lives and it is only safe to make the right decision.

It does not matter how big or grand your decisions might be; life decisions can be as simple as deciding to drink a certain amount of water every day or bigger decisions such as switching careers, starting a new class, learning a new language and anything else. Whatever the decision is, the goal is to ensure that you do not regret the decision in the next 10 years.

 

Why Do You Need To Make The Right Decision Now?

To answer the question above properly, view every decision you make as a seed. The quality of the seed sown dictates the quality of harvest that will be gotten after a long period. When you make any decision, be rest assured that you are making it for your future too.

So, when you make poor and irrational decisions today, you will reap the regrets in the future. It’s just life following the simple principle of “garbage in, garbage out”.

As little and as insignificant as they might seem, making the right decisions today would prepare a “soft landing” for you in the future, and on the flip side, if you make a wrong decision, life would take its toll on you.

Now, let’s look at the 10 of the many decisions you will regret in the next 10 years.

 

1.  Being Mediocre At What You Do

Mediocrity is the fastest way to become a failure in life. Of course, imperfection is an innate quality of every human; it is a quality we cannot fight. At the end of the day, no one is perfect and everyone is on a journey to becoming perfect.

However, this should never be an excuse for mediocrity. When you cultivate a habit of being mediocre at what you do, it would bounce back at you and 10 years into the future, when you look back, you would regret making the decision.

As I have stated at the beginning of this piece, life is a journey and the decisions we make in the course of our journey would play major roles in determining the smoothness of the journey.

If you want your journey to be full of ups and downs, the ball is in your court. I would, however, suggest that you cultivate a habit of responsibility and putting your best into all you do.

This includes conceiving negative thoughts because you are whatever you think you are. Instead of embracing the limiting phase, employ freeing phases.

Limiting

• ‘’I’m lazy’’
• ‘’I’m always worried’’
• ‘’I’m unloveable’’
• ‘’I’m weird’’

Freeing

• ‘’ I allow myself time to relax’’
• ‘’I feel many things, not just one thing’’
• ‘’I’m loveable’’
• ‘’I’m unique’’
• ‘’I am worthy’’
• ‘’I can do hard things’’
• ‘’I’m proud of myself ‘’
• ‘’I know how to pick healthy people’’
• ‘’There is good in the world’’
• ‘’I am not crazy. What I feel is real’’
• ‘’I am growing’’
• ‘’Perfection is not required’’
• ‘’Two things can be true’’
• ‘’I don’t have to get over it’’
• ‘’I have a choice’’

 

2.  Letting Others Dictate How You Live Your Life

You own your life and you alone should be in control of it. When issues regarding your life and future arise, you should primarily be the one to make decisions. Giving this special duty to others would be to your detriment. Never allow people to dictate how you live your life.

Never give anyone reasons to make you place themselves, and their rules first in your life. In everything you do, you come first and you should regard yourself as such.

The moment you begin to allow strangers to control how you live your life, you would realize that you are setting yourself up for danger and when you look back in the next 10 years, you would definitely have regrets. To avoid this dreadful occurrence, I recommend that you place yourself first.

 

3.  Giving Up

Quitting should never be an option. If you have set your mind on a goal, ensure that you follow through to the end. Remember, winners do not quit and quitters never win.

Giving up can be attractive but more often than not, people who give up on their goals end up regretting their shameful act. When in a confusing situation- seek advice, think or just do anything apart from quitting. If you give up on chasing your dreams today, posterity might not smile on you.

So, for the sake of posterity, do your best not to quit. Ensure that you violently pursue your goals and crush them like a champion. If you do not give up, in the next 10 years when you will look back, you will have reasons to smile but if the reverse turns out to be the case, you will be in astute sadness. The choice is yours to make.

 

4.  Avoiding Change And Growth

Change is ever constant. Everything is subject to change. However, humans can decide not to adapt to the changing factors around their environment and continue wallowing in profound retrogression.

In life, things and people change. This is just a basic principle of life and should be normalized. So, when change and growth occur in our lives, we should ensure that we adjust our lifestyle to the change occurring.

Growth is a positive development and should be encouraged. However, with growth comes certain changes and these changes help to sustain the growth. These changes must be observed and readjusted to.

Growth is a positive progressive change and should be encouraged at everything. When growth and change are kicked against, posterity might not be kind and in 10 years, you will be filled with regrets.

All these get in the way of your growth and progress:

• What other people think about your goals.
• Looking at what others are doing and comparing it to what you’re doing.
• Imposter syndrome.
• Fear of failure.
• Sharing with people who don’t support your growth.
• Being around people who don’t have goals.

 

5.  Settling For Less Than You Deserve

Knowing your worth is a crucial part of your existence. When you know your worth, you will be respected. You should be an accessible person but not so accessible as to accept anything thrown at you.

When someone asks you for a favor and you think that it is not in your best interest to do the favor- reject it and do not feel bad for taking a stand. You are worth making good decisions and should not be made to feel bad for making good decisions.

Knowing your worth comes from your self-esteem. So, ensure that you have high self-esteem as this will help you to know your worth and never allow just anyone to throw anything at you. Yet again, the choice is yours to make.

 

6.  Being Lazy And Careless 

Laziness is a repulsive quality. The world does not owe you anything, you owe the world something. There’s no point lazing around when you need something- Stop daydreaming about your goals and start deliberately working towards achieving them.

You are important and relevant, so, you need to take full responsibility for your life and start giving value. Now is not the time to start waiting for someone to do something for you. Be responsible and deliberate about not being lazy.

Laziness would only make you not achieve all your goals and at the end of the day, you would become redundant – a major preparation for years of regret. The world needs you now, obey and be relevant or allow posterity to be harsh on you. The choice is yours!

 

7.  Worrying About Everything

Worrying solves nothing. When we worry, we go through unnecessary stress and apart from the mental implication of worrying, there is also the physical effect of worrying.

By worrying too much, we endanger our health and put ourselves at the risk of falling sick. Instead of worrying, share your travails with friends and loved ones. Remember, a problem shared is half-solved so share your problems with someone today.

Everything is going to be okay, breathe and remember that you’ve been in this place before. You’ve been this uncomfortable, anxious and scared, and you’ve survived. Close your eyes and feel the universe within you making a way for you right now.

 

8.  Spending Less Time With Loved Ones

Your loved ones are your friends and family members who will always stand by you when you have problems. You must recognize their presence and influence by occasionally spending time with them.

Show them that you value them as much as they value you. At the end of the day, if things go south for you, they are your first point of call. So, if you starve them of your time and attention now, you will be filled with regrets in the next few years.

 

9.  Holding Grudges

Having resentments at people without speaking up is childish. There’s no point holding grudges when you can always say what’s on your mind. Let your offenders know what wrong they have done.

And no matter how big and grave their offense is, ensure that you forgive and rid yourself of the grudges and hate that might be boiling in your heart. Whatever the problem is, ensure you communicate like adults and settle things out.

Truth is the little issue that’s making you hold grudges might not even mean anything in the next ten years if you genuinely forgive the person. You don’t want to look back in the future and still have feelings of resentment for another person who has probably moved on.

 

10.  Not Pursuing Your Passion

This is very important. If you do not pursue what you have a flair for, you will end up regretting your actions. If you have a passion for playing tennis, you should ensure that you go for your dream. Follow your dream aggressively and never give up because if you do give up, you will be hurt when you look back.

Whatever your dream is, ensure you sell yourself to every single person who can assist you and pursue your dream diligently. With time and consistency, you will hit your target. You are completely in control of your life. If you want to do it, you can.

So far, you have read some of the decisions you need to have a rethink over in case you have made them. Life isn’t as sweet as it looks, you cannot afford to make the wrong decisions.

It is important to pay attention to the decisions we make and ensure that they align with our future goals and ambitions. The popular adage “as you lay your bed, so you lay on it” becomes very meaningful here.

If you make bad decisions, you will definitely regret doing so in the future and if you make good decisions, you will enjoy the benefits. Make your choice!

Life is too short for inauthentic relationships, faking it till you make it, poor boundaries, cultivating negativity, putting your growth off, dreaming without creating goals, second-guessing yourself and trying to hide who you are to fit with what others want you to be.

It is important to know that:

• Your imperfections are not an indicator of inadequacy.
• It’s impossible to be perfect- A good enough attitude leads to peace of mind.
• Guilt and shame get in the way of healing and growth.
• Pleasing others drains your energy and depletes your spirit.
• Self-pity leaves no room for self-compassion and forgiveness.

 

Now before you leave, three thoughts:

Do not be pushed by what other people want you to do. Instead, be moved by your own clarity-when intuition and mind unify into an undeniable direction.

Hate has never shown a single heart true comfort, its appearance only gives the illusion of protection. Hate is a mask that covers fear; Run from it!

In a world that is changing and growing so quickly, inner calmness is our most valuable asset; the type of calmness that remains and stands firm no matter the movement or struggle happening around you, the type of calmness that helps you breathe deeply and think clearly.

 

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