You always hear people saying they want to live life with "no regrets." Well, I tried that - and failed. Here are some things I've been guilty of doing that I wish I never did.
1. I wish I didn’t let other people’s expectations hold me back.
Eight words to remove from your vocabulary: “What will people say? What will people think?” I've learned to put more stock into what I think. You live most of your life inside your own head, so make sure it is a nice place to be.
2. I wish I never lost so much time worrying.
It's easy to get caught up in what the future might bring. Whether that future meant the meeting coming up in 20 minutes, next weekends plans or even the next 10 years. I regret focusing so much on the future that I didn't get to enjoy the present. But I'll admit it, I'm still working on this one.
3. I wish I never compared myself to others.
Especially in the world inundated by social media, it's easy to compare your life to your friends (or even strangers.) I found myself constantly comparing my success and growth to others, which just made me feel down right disappointed. As I get older, I realize it is not fair to compare your chapter 1 to someone else's chapter 15. We each are writing our own book - put your head down and focus on yours and you'll like the finished product a lot more.
4. I wish I never tried to fit in.
The desire to fit in is natural. Changing yourself, hiding your passions, faking interest and altering your appearance is not. I wish I never wasted time, money and happiness trying to fit in with people who probably weren't being their true selves either.
5. I wish I spent more money on experiences than material things.
My boyfriend and I love doing things. Our relationships has been filled with going places to see unique/interesting/historical things that pique our interest. I regret not investing in experiences earlier. A designer bag is nice, but when you look back on life you don't remember your new purse - you remember a road trip, a funny moment in a quiet and serious museum tour or a breathtaking view. Experiences shape us - so I've learned to invest my money well.
All in all, these aren't horrible regrets. They're natural learnings that come with getting older. Growing pains. I'm sure in 10 years my list will look different, but maybe a few will reappear. Everyone makes mistakes and has regrets - but you can't let them define you.
As Steve Jobs said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”