LIVING WITHOUT REGRET
Apr 07, 2016 11:40AM ● By Press Release
Have you ever made an intentional commitment, only to realize that months or even years have passed and you realize that you did not (or forgot to) honor that commitment? How did you feel? How about if you had every intention of visiting someone in the hospital, only to come across that person’s obituary? It’s a sinking feeling, but one that we all experience at some point in our lives.
REALITY: We all have great intentions. Our hearts are in the right place at any given time—then life happens and we ultimately get distracted. How can we intentionally live without regret?
If a significant period of time has passed since you made a commitment, are you too embarrassed to make follow-up contact? If so, consider these steps to living without regret:
Be intentional in your daily activities. If you live life like an ostrich with your head in the sand, you will inevitably regret something. Be aware. Do your best to honor your small daily commitments.
Get organized. Write things down in a way that speaks “organization” to you. I always encourage the “6 Most Important Things To Do” list!
Be Others-focused. Concentrate a portion of each day to filling the needs of others. I don’t mean being a martyr; become more selfless and a better listener. When we listen to others, we become better and happier people.
Put down the cell phone during a personal meeting. Personal meetings require the same or more concentration as driving your car. It’s ILLEGAL to text while driving. When we respect others by turning off the cell phone, we will become better people.
Take deep breaths as often as you can. My husband taught me this technique. Deep breathing is healthy and calms us down.
Keep your commitment list manageable, and you will find success in fulfilling each item!
PS: I just saw my next door neighbor fixing her mailbox. Although a bit embarrassed that we have never actually met (we have been neighbors for five years), I decided to take my own advice and live without regret. Amazingly, I walked next door and we had a lovely conversation. I apologized for not being the best neighbor, and she said the same thing. We now know each other by name, and our doors have been opened to better communication. ☺
About the Author: Laurie J. James is one of the only 16 Master Career Directors globally. She co-founded and presided over the Professional Resume Writing and Research Association from 2000-2004. PRWRA rebranded to Career Directors in 2005. Laurie has created 10,000+ job-winning resumes in her career. She is a credentialed resume & LinkedIn profile writer, seasoned public speaker and award-winning career image coach. Visit her at www.lauriejjames.com.
