One of the blogs I read regularly is written by Scott Pape, the Barefoot Investor. In a blog titled ‘The 5 Biggest Regrets of Dying People’, he listed the top regret as ‘I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me’.
Reading this reminded me of an experience I had a number of years ago that changed me forever. It was the day I realise I couldn’t do it anymore, I couldn’t live the life others expected of me. I was sitting in a park on my lunch break. My corporate job had been going quite well that morning and I thought to myself “It’s not so bad, I can keep doing it. Why do I need to change?” After all, I earned good money and it was a safe and secure career.
Then it happened. I closed my eyes and imagined myself at 65 looking back on my working life. What I saw and felt changed me forever. A deep sense of regret and disappointment came over me because I saw myself as an older man who had never been brave enough to step out of the corporate comfort bubble to live a life true to myself. I’d played life very safe and hadn’t taken any chances. This moment of insight into the path my life was headed was a gift I am grateful for every day.
In order to avoid regret we simple need to take the time to stop and focus on what we want. I have put together a recording called the Adventure Kickstart that allows you to do that and takes you through a process to formulate 3 steps that brings you closer to your adventure. If you’d like to access it, please fill out the form to the right.
What a great reminder.
There were a few things I’did in the past and didnt do that I used to regret but I’ve made my peace with that now. If I want something bad enough now I will go after it. I don’t want to live with regrets.
I really like that perspective Shannyn – if you want something bad enough, go after it. Thanks for your comment.