Live Without Regrets: How I Realized It & Actions I’m Taking

Defining a Life Without Regrets

What makes the concept of “living without regrets” a powerful lesson is that it can be truly life-changing. I can personally vouch for that.

1. When I was understanding it, I was improving my mindset, philosophy, and core values.
2. After I grasped its idea, I became more aware of my choices and felt super motivated to take risks that were worth the effort. It also made me more open to new experiences, ready to embrace change, and focused on chasing what truly inspired me.
3. And since I started practicing it, I felt happier and more satisfied with my life.

Honestly, if I weren’t aware of the importance of living without regrets, I probably would not have left my 9 to 5 and gone blogging to follow my passion.

Knowing the concept of ‘living without regrets’ ignited a powerful drive within me to break free from the miserable corporate whatever I had at work…

(You know, those things that we are afraid to change, even if they’re already harming us, because we are scared of uncertainty.)

I just want to share, I was trapped in an exploitative industry where working weekends and overtime for free felt like an obligation. Work-life balance? It simply didn’t exist. Yeah, man, it was crazy times.

So, what was on my mind about “living without regrets” that inspired me to take the leap of faith?

Simply put, it’s this:

A picture in my head of me in my 70s, looking back at all the memories I’ve made with the people I love and the things I’ve accomplished that truly matter to me.

A life well lived.

I simply hated to imagine its opposite when I reach the end of my life, looking back and feeling frustrated because I’m not where I dreamed I would be.

That would be a very painful situation—like experiencing a little bit of hell—especially if I found myself there, realizing I hadn’t done anything to change my future from heading toward a disappointing life…

As I realized all this while dealing with frustrating work conditions, I knew I had to do something or I’d end up miserable when I got older.

I figured I needed to switch to a more fulfilling career instead of staying in a job that offered no meaning or happiness—just stress and security.

Security? I mean steady income, free health care, and a career path.

While I valued security, I realized it would hurt more to look back and see that I chose to spend more time at the office instead of with the people I care about.

Besides, I want a life that’s more than just getting by or doing things I hardly care about; I want a life where I truly feel alive!

Yes, to live without regrets is to live my life on my own terms.

Over the years, my definition of living without regrets has changed as I gain new experiences.

However, what makes the most sense to me is this: “living without regrets” is about harnessing self-awareness and decisiveness to make choices that authentically reflect one’s true values, beliefs, and desires.

In my reflection that I just shared with you, I hold family, gratitude, and freedom as my core values. I believe that being proactive is key to avoiding regrets. My desires? To live fully and cherish every moment with loved ones.

Anyway, It’s important to understand that living without regrets could mean different things to different people, depending on the kind of life or goals they want to pursue. It can be:

• Embracing the present moment and valuing experiences over material possessions.
• Learning from past mistakes and using them as opportunities for growth.
• Forgiving oneself and others to release emotional burdens.
• Prioritizing relationships and connections with loved ones.
• Taking risks and stepping out of comfort zones.
• Cultivating gratitude for life’s experiences, both good and bad.
• Focusing on what can be controlled and letting go of what cannot.
• Living authentically and true to oneself.
• Setting and pursuing meaningful goals that bring fulfillment.

The Moments That Led to My Regret-Free Path

I wouldn’t fully understand what it means to live without regrets, nor would I be aware of my values and decisive in my actions, if it weren’t for the countless experiences that have shaped me.

It’s a long story that covers nearly 30 years of my life!

However, there are a few key experiences that stand out in helping me understand what living without regrets is.

First — Time & Family

Let’s rewind to two days before 2016, when life began seriously teaching me how to live without regrets.

It was then that my aunt, who acted like a second mother to me, passed away from a heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I thought it was just a bad dream, and I needed someone to wake me up.

She was very close to me and always looked out for me. For 20 years, she was a constant presence in my life whenever my mother was busy at work.

I couldn’t be more grateful to her.

However, I never got the chance to repay the immense care and love she gave me, and I deeply regret that. I’ve wished many times for an opportunity to express my gratitude for her love.

Since then, I promised myself that I would always show affection and spend time with the people I love, hoping to avoid the deep regret I felt after her passing.

First lesson learned.

Second — Goals

“Become the greatest engineer” has always been my dream—until I decided to become a blogger. It was also a phrase I saw in the job description of my second company that caught my attention and made me eager to join them.

Unfortunately, when I got accepted in 2018, I was offered not exactly the job title I applied for.

(While the job was somewhat related, most of the work didn’t align with the career I’m trying to build.)

Being naive, I didn’t turn down their offer because I was afraid I wouldn’t find another company in the same industry.

The result?

Six months later, I was overwhelmed and frustrated, stuck doing work I didn’t like. I was going to the factory, building test jigs, and creating a lot of documentation—none of which was related to coding, the area I want to improve in.

During that time, I felt so much regret again.

I wished I had been more vocal and persistent about my true goals so I wouldn’t have suffered as much.

After that experience, I swore to myself that if I ever changed jobs again, I would make sure my new job would be something I truly love or at least closely aligned with my long-term goals.

Third — Live Fully & Freedom

I can’t simply blame bad luck for not finding a good job where I wouldn’t feel frustrated.

Because, I figured out that what I value most is freedom, which is hard to come by in a corporate job.

I realized that I actually want freedom in my life during my travels in 2019. Throughout that year, I traveled to escape stress, visiting at least one destination each month.

My desire to travel so often that year came from the incredible experience I had on a three-day trip to Sagada in November 2018, which became truly unforgettable for me.

The fun and adventures I had during that trip completely made me forget the worries and stress from my job.

Amazingly overwhelmed by the new travel experience, I realized I wanted more, so yeah, I began to travel more.

In just a year,

• I’ve hiked different mountain tops with breathtaking views, like Mount Pulag, Mount Kupapey, and Mount Pinatubo.
• I’ve also enjoyed beaches and lakes where I partied and relaxed with friends, like Lake Caliraya, Calatagan, and La Union.
• I explored historic city centers, like the Old Quarter in Hanoi, and checked out cultural spots like Ximending in Taipei, and more.

Every time I experienced the thrill of new adventures, I came to see that life is too short to be stuck in an office that doesn’t inspire me.

I craved for the freedom to explore wherever and whenever I can.

On every trip I took, though, especially in the mountains, I found myself having introspective moments where I would reflect on how I was really doing.

As I kept asking myself different questions, I realized again and again just how much beauty there is in the world… and how I can create unforgettable memories with my loved ones on these places.

So, by the end of 2019, I promised myself that I would make time to really live my life.

I told myself that I would visit the places I’ve always wanted to see, whether alone or with my family, and create the work-life balance I’ve been wanting.

Fourth — Desires

In 2020, I changed jobs, hoping to finally experience a better work-life balance.

In fact, before 2020 even started, I had already planned all my trips for the year, including time with my family!

I was so excited to make the most of it… but two months in, the pandemic hit.

All my plans went out the window all of the sudden. I felt like the world had turned its back on me.

Those first few months of the pandemic? It was complete crap since no one was allowed to leave their house.

(I hated thinking that the universe convinced me to travel for another year, only to turn around and tell me I wouldn’t be able to travel for the next two.)

Things got even worse when the virus hit my family, and it happened just as I was given two hard tasks at work: fixing problems on an important SIM card project and training new hires.

Truly, it was one of the most exhausting times of my life.

While I wanted to bounce back, I couldn’t. Any form of travel was banned. Not to mention the overwhelming anxiety that comes with getting sick from the virus.

There were even nights when I couldn’t sleep at all because my mind was racing with so many thoughts.

I kept thinking about everything, from the missed opportunities to enjoy my prime years (I was 25-26 when the pandemic happened) to the unsettling uncertainty about the future.

From the time I went to bed around eleven at night until four or five in the morning, these thoughts stayed with me.

Can you imagine how stressful it could be to try to sleep? Hehe.

By October that year, I was given another demanding project, and just like at my last job, I found myself working nonstop, even on weekends.

The stress was so bad that I started losing my hair.

At that point, I’d had enough and began seriously and desperately thinking about what I really wanted in life. A few days later, I handed in my resignation and decided to start blogging instead.

I realized I no longer wanted to spend time doing things I didn’t enjoy, and it was time to fully chase my dreams.

“There’s no time to waste, no more regrets,” I told myself.

“I’m going to achieve my dreams no matter what and create the life I’ve always wanted.”

By the way, if you’re thinking about quitting your job to become a blogger, here are my tips.