Why Thinking About 'What Could Have Been' Is Actually Ruining Your Life | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Why Thinking About 'What Could Have Been' Is Actually Ruining Your Life

The past will never change but, the future is yours.

6100
Why Thinking About 'What Could Have Been' Is Actually Ruining Your Life
pxhere.com

I have had many experiences throughout my life that I wish I could relive over and over again. I have also had many moments that I can’t help but think about how different they could have been.

Everyone can relate to having regrets in life, but how often do you spend wondering what would have happened if you made one different choice? I used to spend valuable time wishing I hadn’t gone on that one trip or ignored that one phone call.

These thoughts would eat me up inside.

I became obsessed with thinking about all of the wrong choices I made in moments of time. I kept thinking about the different outcomes that ‘could have’ come about with my different choices. I had this idea that whatever negative connotation I had with a memory would somehow disappear if I could just envision the outcome I wanted.

You can't change the past.

Everyone knows this yet, why is it so hard to stop playing it differently in your mind? For me, I was living through regrets in life that I thought would have turned out better if I had changed a few details. However wrong I thought those moments turned out, the fact is they DID turn out.

Going back and changing the events of your life would not only be interfering with God’s plan but, you don’t know how it would turn out.

The truth of the matter is that whatever details you wish you had changed don’t guarantee the outcomes you desire. If you had not answered that one call, or not met that one person, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you wouldn’t be in the exact spot in your life as you currently are.

I have always been a firm believer in the notion that everything truly happens for a reason. There is a reason you went on that trip or ignored that one phone call. It is hard to accept at times but, you are exactly where you are supposed to be right now.

It is also true that if there was some possible way you could change the past, how much would it really change your life right now, or how much would you want it to change?

I think people who become complacent or unhappy with their current lives decide to look back on their past regrets to think, “if I had just done this or that…” If you catch yourself starting to wander back into those time changing thoughts, I think it is time to ask yourself what about your life would you want to change right now and how can you in the future.

The future is the only thing you can change. Wanting a change in life is fine, it’s even necessary to grow as a person however, nothing will be changed by wishing you had done something else. It is time to start recognizing where you want to be in life and what steps you need to take to get there.

The past will never change but, the future is yours.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1193
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

821
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 20 Thoughts College Students Have During Finals

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

131
winter

Thanksgiving break is over and Christmas is just around the corner and that means, for most college students, one hellish thing — finals week. It's the one time of year in which the library becomes over populated and mental breakdowns are most frequent. There is no way to avoid it or a cure for the pain that it brings. All we can do is hunker down with our books, order some Dominos, and pray that it will all be over soon. Luckily, we are not alone in this suffering. To prove it, here are just a few of the many deranged thoughts that go through a college student's mind during finals week.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

28 Daily Thoughts of College Students

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1483
group of people sitting on bench near trees duting daytime

I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments