3 Ways to Regret-Proof Your Life

This message isn’t for everyone. In fact it’s not for most people.

Several years ago, I fell to my knees – my eyes were filled with tears.

Why?

I lost a beloved mentor…here’s the story and one powerful lesson to help you live a life without regret:

My friend and mentor Larry died raking leaves in the backyard and was only 2 weeks into his retirement.

Just like a snap of the fingers he was gone.

His wife called and the words she said next changed me forever. “Larry’s gone”, she said “but I wanted you to know that he was never happier than he was these last two weeks”.

So who was Larry and why was he so great?

Larry was an awesome policeman.

A small town detective that took kids out of bad situations, talked to them and got them to straighten up.

You know, the kind you want to be around, but not be on his bad side.

He was a champion for me during some tough times, and I loved him dearly.

It seemed everyone in town showed up for his funeral.

The police force dressed in full regalia.

There was a parade with police lights, sirens and a 21 gun salute.

Tears flowed freely for the loss of their co-worker, friend, father and dad, and the line of police cars, firetrucks and even kids on bikes joined the procession.

But I knew something most did not.

Larry died regretting the things he never got to do.

He wanted to travel more.

He wanted to stress less.

He wanted to love more deeply.

He wanted to spend more time with family.

He wanted to lose weight, get off medications and change his life.

He never got to do any of that.

That day in honor of him, I made the life-changing choice to live without regret and to persuade people to achieve their dreams, like Larry would have wanted. I haven’t looked back.

Here are some of the startling and difficult facts about people today:

– The divorce rate is 58%.

– Depression is projected to be the #2 killer by 2030.

– Professionals estimate that 40% of people have an addiction problem.

– 1 in 5 is a forced family caregiver.

– 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men are in an abusive situation.

– 60+ hour workweeks have become normal.

– America consumes 60% of all illegal drugs in the world.

If you are caught up in any of these things, you will have regrets, anxiety, failed relationships and maybe even early disease or even death.

Nobody wants that.

But you probably work too hard and your relationships suffer. Your to-do list is a mile long. You never have (or make) time to play, and you’ve forgotten what that even feels like. (Your dog knows though, so maybe it’s time to go on a walk!)

Maybe you’d really like to start on the path to living a life of deep fulfillment, without regrets.

If that’s you, here are three ways get started to regret-proof your life.

1. Know Yourself. Focus on the things that really matter to you and are in alignment with you who really are. If you are 5’ tall, you are not going to be a champion center in the NBA. Choose something that you love and are meant to achieve.

2. Have clarity of purpose. We are all here to do great things for ourselves and each other. To live a life of purpose-driven action that helps you connect and achieve the fulfillment in your life Larry never had. Find your purpose to fulfill your destiny.

3. Take purposeful action. If you’re caught up in the “busyness” of doing day to day tasks without reward or joy, something’s wrong. What you want is to be doing the things that light you up, things you’re good at that no one else can do.

When you start with these few small habits or seek to find the purpose-filled life you not only want, but you deserve, you’re on the right track.

If you want more inspiration or help with regret-proofing your life and many other life situations, join our happy pack of dog loving, successful people who are looking to fetch fulfillment and joy in their everyday lives.

Just 5 minutes a week could change your life.