How do we overcome the regret of feeling we’ve wasted too many years?

 A life changing  story you must read.

there was  this  guy, his name is George. George has struggled with a huge regret about almost 20 years of his life - between 20 and 40. Basically he has spent it partying, gradually destroying his physique because of bad diet and lack of physical activities, he had no job, spent almost all his and his family savings and ended up with a feeling that his life has already ended and that he has wasted it.

For almost a year he spent nearly every day recreating the pose of “a sad Keanu”

And then he decided to reach out for help.

Now, let’s think for a while - where does the regret come from? It is a result of our own mortality, and of time passing inevitability. If we lived forever, there would not be such a phenomenon as “wasted years/chances”. Everybody could start clean and make up for the wasted years.

Except that we can’t. Now what?

There are three kinds of people: those who live in the past, those who live in the present, and those who live in the future. It is important to understand that no matter how much you try, you cannot change the past - but you can change your present time and the future.

But what does it really mean?

It means that you need to create a sense of accomplishment fitting your current age and social role.

Let me explain: George regretted that he did not spend his years between 20 and 40 in such a way, that, when turning 40, he could feel like an accomplished 40 year old. He started to fantasize about having a career, having lots of money, being in a good physical shape. That is the main error: he wanted to have PRESENT the positive results of his PAST, that he did not create.

George wanted to have a NOW that did not fit his PAST.

We started the change by creating a PRESENT for him that did not rely on his PAST (it means you are starting to do something new), and also gives a chance to create a FUTURE in which it is possible that he will be proud and feel accomplished about his past (from now on). What did we do? We started with three super simple steps:

He got a dog.

He started to work for a minimal wage (he had no experience at all) but in an area very close to his heart.

He sold his car and got a bicycle.

NOTE: You need to create a future for yourself where you will feel accomplished - by living wisely in the present and stopping fantasizing about the life “you could have had” if you lived differently before.