LISTEN (mp3 audio) (2:20 min)
Quickly, consider what’s happened in your life in the past five years. Skim through the ups and downs, the major events and memories. If you have the opportunity, make a list. As you go through the list, sort those events and memories in two categories, “I wish I had…” or “I’m glad I did…” What do you find?
If you’re like most of us, you probably have items in both categories.
Like:
“I wish I had exercised more.”
“I wish I had taken that job offer.”
or
“I’m glad I saw the doctor.”
“I’m glad we took that trip.”
Here’s another question: For those “I wish I had…” situations, would it have taken very much to change them to “I’m glad I did…”? Possibly quite a few could have been changed with a small action on our part.
Conversely, when it comes to “I’m glad I did…” events, how many great benefits and positive memories were triggered by small decisions, or modest actions that were never anticipated to deliver great results?
In retrospect, many of the major events of our lives may have tipped on small things. Five years from now, it’s likely that many other small actions, either taken or left undone, will deliver the same impact.
The famous early 20-century American journalist H.L. Mencken, wrote “Remorse is the regret that one waited so long to do it.”
Financially, we all know we have some things where we say “I wish I had…” made a will, bought that stock, taken that life insurance.” We also know financial mistakes have ongoing opportunity costs; today’s poor decisions often cost us much more in the future.
Life doesn’t come with guarantees. But if you make a conscious decision to add another item to the “I’m glad I did…” category, you can’t help but believe the future is going to be better. The best financial program is one with no regrets. What needs to be done today so that five years from now, ten years from now, you will be able to say, “I’m glad I did…”?
