Dave Bernas' blog
Only One Regret
The easiest thing to do tomorrow is exactly what you did yesterday. And most of what we do in life happens as a result of heredity, habit and circumstance. It’s as if we live our lives on automatic pilot.
But just for a moment, imagine what your life would be like if you actually designed it, planned it. What if you chose your profession or your level on the socio-economic pyramid, or your circle of friends, or even your religion, instead of just receiving what life has handed you? Would you be happier? Freer? More fulfilled?
Most of us are so familiar with making excuses for the way we are, that the very thought of taking responsibility for who we are and how we live is uncomfortable, even a little scary. It feels awkward to contemplate anything other than what we have become accustomed to.
A few people though, have been forced to rebuild their lives. Like when a building burns to the ground and the owner gets to redesign it and build it again, to his or her liking. Amazingly, these people often end up more content, more in love with life, than they ever were before. Although they would likely have continued to live exactly as they always had, when they are forced to choose what parts of their lives they will rebuild and what things they will abandon, they often end up with a more satisfying life.
It takes courage to voluntarily put yourself in the position of choosing what you will change about your life and what you will keep, but if you found out that you only had six months to live, would you do less of some things that you do now? Would you do more of the things you love to do, than you do now? Are there things you have never done that you would want to do before it’s too late?
These questions don’t touch everyone. In fact most people who read this, will just shrug their shoulders and do tomorrow exactly as they did yesterday. But if you are one of the very few people on this planet who has the courage to design your own life, I challenge you to begin immediately. Get a book, get a life coach or just get a blank note pad and begin to answer this question: “What do I really want to do with my life?†The only regret you’ll have is that you didn’t start sooner.
David Bernas 2008
But just for a moment, imagine what your life would be like if you actually designed it, planned it. What if you chose your profession or your level on the socio-economic pyramid, or your circle of friends, or even your religion, instead of just receiving what life has handed you? Would you be happier? Freer? More fulfilled?
Most of us are so familiar with making excuses for the way we are, that the very thought of taking responsibility for who we are and how we live is uncomfortable, even a little scary. It feels awkward to contemplate anything other than what we have become accustomed to.
A few people though, have been forced to rebuild their lives. Like when a building burns to the ground and the owner gets to redesign it and build it again, to his or her liking. Amazingly, these people often end up more content, more in love with life, than they ever were before. Although they would likely have continued to live exactly as they always had, when they are forced to choose what parts of their lives they will rebuild and what things they will abandon, they often end up with a more satisfying life.
It takes courage to voluntarily put yourself in the position of choosing what you will change about your life and what you will keep, but if you found out that you only had six months to live, would you do less of some things that you do now? Would you do more of the things you love to do, than you do now? Are there things you have never done that you would want to do before it’s too late?
These questions don’t touch everyone. In fact most people who read this, will just shrug their shoulders and do tomorrow exactly as they did yesterday. But if you are one of the very few people on this planet who has the courage to design your own life, I challenge you to begin immediately. Get a book, get a life coach or just get a blank note pad and begin to answer this question: “What do I really want to do with my life?†The only regret you’ll have is that you didn’t start sooner.
David Bernas 2008