7 Things You Should Know Before It Is Too Late

Posted on Nov 14, 2016 | 0 comments

My mantra in life has always been ‘No regrets’, even from a very young age. I have made decisions based upon not regretting anything and have tried to take advantage of every opportunity that has knocked on my door.

Even still, I find myself at this age periodically thinking “I wish I had known what I know now back then”. There are a few things that I may have done differently… Sometimes I feel like if my younger self had been more enlightened or aware, I may have been more emotionally equipped to handle things a bit better than I did.

With this in mind, I have put together a list of things I wish I had been more conscious of as a youth.

7 Things You Should Know Before It Is Too Late

Focus on the now. We all spend so much time dissecting the past or planning for the future that somehow the present slips right away from us, often having us miss out on some of the best life-moments. Our minds run a million miles a minute, taking us away from the present moment, which is the only time that true happiness is possible as the past is gone and the future is not here yet. If we can stop ourselves for a little while and put our attention on what is going on right around us by allowing ourselves to appreciate what we have in the present, or even just focusing on our breath for a little while, we would be so far ahead of the game!
Do not overthink things. Many of us are so concerned with what we should or shouldn’t do according to what others around us think is appropriate that we often miss the opportunities that would really benefit us. Living your life the way you want to is the only way to be true to yourself and to be happy. Stop limiting yourself because of other people’s expectations and start listening to your own instinct and what feels right for you.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Keep your fears and insecurities in perspective and let things go. If you make a mistake, that’s ok. You haven’t failed but you have learned an invaluable lesson going forward. Our minds like to grab onto our fears and if we are not careful, they will run us amuck. Next time something happens, ask yourself – ‘will this upset me in a week, month or year?’. The answer will most likely be no, so let it go.
Face your fears with a smile. We all have them, those nasty little fears. Some are valid and some are not, but all are just a product of your mind and don’t actually exist. Once you realize this, facing your fears will be much easier and the feeling you will have after doing it will be incredibly rewarding and inspiring.
Slow down!! So many of us are always in a rush. We rush through our work day only to come home and rush through dinner to get to bed and wake up to do it all over again. Modern society has us wanting everything quickly. But the fact of the matter is that when we slow down and set small, attainable goals in order to reach the big goal, we give ourselves the ability to achieve so much more.
Don’t assume what anyone else is thinking. We are all guilty of this, being worried about and assuming what our neighbors, friends and family are thinking of our choices. The fact is that most people are more worried about what is going on in their lives that they aren’t paying as much attention to us as we think. So stand strong in your choices, listen to your own instincts and do what feels right for you.
Appreciate everything. With everything that modern society has to offer us, it is easy to take it all for granted. This leaves us feeling like we will always need more and are lacking. Instead, take the time to acknowledge and appreciate what we already have. This will carry over into the rest of our lives, establishing the positive mindset needed for a truly conscious, happy and healthy life.