1、If You Dont Do These Now, Youll Regret 10 Years LaterBY TINA WILLIAMSON IN COMMUNICATION, MOTIVATION When youre nearing the summit of this turbulent climb through life, will you reach the top with wild enthusiasm or will you be hobbling with the aching knees of regret? Youve climbed through storms,
2、passed over green patches and had help from friends, and now its almost over. Your whole life has been leading you to this moment and one thing is certain: this final ascent we all have to do alone.What thoughts will flash through your mind? You will be faced with tough questions such as: Did I do e
3、nough, love enough, was I happy?You might leave these questions simmering on the back burner, thinking tomorrow will be a good day to contemplate the answers, but remembertomorrow might not come!So heres what you can do today. Lets call this an insurance policy for tomorrows happiness.1. Put your he
4、alth and wellness above everything elseThere is an old saying: “If you dont have your health you have nothing,” and this is very true. Your body is housing your soul. Exercise, eat clean and get the proper rest. Take care of your body so that you have the opportunity to lead a long and full life. Se
5、e 15 tips on restarting an exercise practice.2. Take the time to do the things you loveThis may sound clich, but work less and play more. You will never regret taking a vacation, engaging in a new hobby or spending a day with those who make you happy. But you might regret never taking that art class
6、, reading that book or crossing big items off the bucket list. Be a participant in life.3. Stop taking life so seriouslyWhy are you taking life so seriously anyway? Really? Find humor in something everyday, and laugh, laugh a lot!4. Always say what you need to sayIf you love someone, tell them. If s
7、omeone hurt you, tell them. If you have trouble expressing your feelings, then write a letter. Make sure those around you know each and every day how you feel.5. Open up your mind to possibilitiesIf you look in your garage and see a coiled, dark shadow that resembles a snake, your reaction might be
8、to jump with fear, but later when you look closer and realize its just a green hose, you might feel silly for believing the tricks of your mind. Stop being controlled by your deluded projections.Change your perspective and open yourself up to a new world of exciting and fulfilling possibilities. Loo
9、k at your life with fresh eyes and youll find improved relationships, more excitement, and less resentments, anger and bitterness.6. Follow your own pathlive a life true to youStop comparing yourself to others and stop striving for perfection. Life is not a masquerade balltake off the mask, be yours
10、elf! If people dont like it, then maybe its time to find a new party. Doing or being any other way will leave you feeling lonely, depressed and hopeless. Stop living a life based on the expectations of others.7. Stop living in the pastRight now you need to throw away regrets of the past. Its gone, t
11、here is no point dwelling on what could of been, doing so will only rob the present moment of joy. The past doesnt exist except as a memory, its a mental story and it cant be changed. Why not tell the story of your past in a way that enhances your present moment and future.8. Accept the things you c
12、annot change“If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If its not fixable, then there is no help in worrying.” The Dalai LamaWhen you fight against reality, you get bloody in a battle of what ifs and denial. Whether your reali
13、ty is that you should have married someone else, said something you needed to say, or are dealing with an illness, the reality is you cant change any these things. Dwelling or worrying is only robbing your present moment of all joy.What you can do is re-evaluate your life now and take the necessary
14、steps to make the appropriate changes. Follow your instincts, they will tell you when you have veered off the path of where you should be, whether it be your relationship or career. Tune into your inner compass it will guide you in the right direction.Take “what if”, “should have” and “why me” out o
15、f your story. Move on.9. Practice mindful livingMindful living will in fact slow down time; it will enhance the present moment and fill otherwise mundane days with awe and joy.Ten years from now you might think, Where did my life go? When we live mindfully we immerse ourselves in moments. These are
16、the moments that make up our lives. If you dont practice mindfulness you run the risk of having these precious moments of your life lost to a string of foggy over-thinking. Rest in the spaces in between the major events, these spaces are your life.“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular
17、way; on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” Jon Kabat-Zinn10. Stop chasing money, fame, and possessionsWe crave wealth, prestige, fame and popularity, we crave material things and beautiful people. We mistakenly think that happiness is going to arrive when we meet these goals. Ins
18、tead of enjoying our life, we are in a constant pursuit of something other than where we are right now.At the end of your life, your expensive BMW will not be whats flashing through your mind. You will more likely smile at the memory of your loyal dog. Stop chasing material possessions, there is no
19、real happiness there, only an endless pursuit.11. Always practice gratitude“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger int
20、o a friend.” Melody BeattieGratitude improves health, happiness, spirituality, connection, relationships, self-worth and simply gives life intense meaning.Even if your life isnt perfectand heres a secret, it never will be perfectyou still have a lot to be grateful for. So every day remember to take
21、the time to smile, laugh and truly say thanks for all the small and big joys in your life.12. LoveThis is an excerpt by the famous Martha Beck that has made an enormous impact on my life. It sums up regret beautifully:“So the ultimate lesson of regret, the one that will help guide you into a rich an
22、d satisfying future, is this: Every time life brings you to a crossroads, from the tiniest to the most immense, go toward love, not away from fear. Think of every choice in terms of “What would thrill and delight me?” rather than “What will keep my fearor the events, people, and things I fearat bay?
23、”Pay attention to all of the sources of love in your life and youll develop a growing sense of abundance of how much beauty surrounds you each day.So lets summarize: A cheat sheet to living without regretsTake care of your healthMake time to do the things you love, work less, laugh and playSay what
24、you need to sayPractice mindfulnessChange your perspectiveLet go of the pastAccept the things you can not changeStop thinking happiness is a future eventStop chasing money and material wealthLive authenticallyTake off the maskFollow your instinctsPractice gratitudeDont make your decisions based on f
25、earLove, love love!There is no guarantee that you wont make any bad decisions, but when you start living your life with these tools in mind, your days will naturally become meaningful. Your wise eyes will be full of adventure and tales: adventures that might not be perfect, but at the very least won
26、t be filled with regrets.Tina WilliamsonTina is a student of Buddhism, meditation and yoga. She writes about cultivating happiness through mindfulness at her own blog: Barefoot Beginnings. Tina lives near cottage country in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two dogs. Also a vegetarian and animal lover she enjoys photography, travel and nature. But mostly shes just a free spirit trying to follow the path. Come on by and receive your free guide: 12 Steps to Happiness.Lifehack -Tips for life
