 Hey Psych2Goers, welcome back! Are you worried that you'll live full of regrets when you're older? Most adults have had at least one experience good or bad where they wish they could go back and do things a little differently. Well, to help you learn from their experiences, here are the top 10 regrets of life by those who are in their old age. 1. Leaping into a relationship too fast One common regret shared by many elderly people is jumping into relationships too fast. This is especially about relationships with people who have vastly different personalities than them. Many elderly folks have noted that while people of opposite personalities bring enjoyment to their lives, it doesn't always bode well as a long lasting commitment. According to Peter Bustin and Steven T. Elman of Cornell University, most people actually prefer having a partner that shares similar characteristics to them. So while it can be fun for a short while, in the long run, you're more likely to gravitate towards people who are similar to you. 2. Drifting apart from family or friends Do you know a family member who's estranged their child? Often times, these parents end up carrying a sense of shame, stress and feelings of isolation once they're older. Even if it happened many years ago, estrangement can still have an effect on both members today, sometimes even impacting their mental well-being in the long run. For these relationships, reconciliation and forgiveness may help resolve the issue and overcome the negative feelings they may have for each other, but it only works if both parties reciprocate it. 3. Not expressing your emotions Like many, you may think your biggest regret will be a failed career path or a lack of financial foresight. However, in actuality, most people's biggest regrets tend to fall in a more emotional nature, such as not being present with their family. Many elderly find that it may be too late to show their genuine feelings of love and affection, especially when the opportunity has already passed. 4. Worrying too much about the past Do other people say that you're always stuck in the past? You might believe that getting older automatically means moving on from everything in the past, but it's not always the case. As long as you spend all your time worrying and ruminating over past mistakes and missed opportunities, you'll always find yourself stuck and unable to move on. However, this does not mean that you stop talking about the past altogether. According to the American Psychological Association, reminiscing and communicating about positive events from the past can actually improve an elderly person's psychological well-being. So, while it's good to talk about the good old days of your friends and family, it's equally important to look at the present and think of the future. 5. Being untruthful far too long Being untruthful doesn't only mean lying to other people. You may also lie to yourself as well. Justifying your thoughts and beliefs in something that, at your core, doesn't reflect your values or innermost state at all. Similarly, you may suppress your own wants and needs for externally motivated reasons. This can go on for ages without even realizing it, and even if you do, it may be too late for you to make an impactful difference. 6. Not taking care of your body Are you in your 20s to 30s? This is usually the age where you feel invincible, at least physically. However, your body will naturally slow down after that time if it's not cared for. Sending your youth without keeping a good diet, doing exercise, and having enough sleep can accelerate this aging process. Older adults who don't sleep well, for instance, are more likely to suffer from mental health issues like depression and develop problems with attention and memory. 7. Not exploring your career Have you ever thought about opening up a business after school but shrugged it aside for fleeting pleasures? Or perhaps your career path was so busy and well-paying that you justified staying, even when it meant not spending any time with your family and friends or being able to explore the things you're passionate about. Not exploring your career options, whether it's because of a high payout or a lack of intrinsic self-worth, may end up leaving you wondering what if when you're older. 8. Not traveling Do you get to travel often? Many of the elderly often regret not traveling and seeing the world. They may have lacked the resources and the opportunity when they were younger and lacked the energy when they're older. Apart from being able to see the world, traveling also has many benefits for your mental health such as improving your mental power, helping you stay calm and widening your perspectives. 9. Working too hard How much time do you spend working? Overworking is one of the most universal regrets for people later in life. According to his book, Being the Father I Never Had, highly influential people like Barack Obama had expressed regret for not being there for his little girls due to work. The common pattern these people share is the lack of time they gave towards the people they cared about, like their family and friends. 10. Not living your true self Do you hide parts of yourself to fit in with people? If so, you may find that the more successful your attempt at masking yourself is, the more lonely and isolated you end up feeling. Changing who you are and pretending to be someone else to please other people can be a source of regret later in life. If you recognize this tendency in yourself, you may want to reflect on why you feel the need to do it and how you can take the steps to start living your true self. Do you have any regrets? Let us know in the comments below. 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