5 Traits To Embrace To Live Without Regret

By Kathy Caprino

Recently, I had a shock. I heard from a mother of a lovely young woman I had spoken with on the phone nearly four years ago about career coaching. I learned from her mother that this beautiful, vibrant young woman was gone. She had passed away in her home in June 2011, just one month after I spoke with her.

I was rocked at the idea that this young woman’s life and myown had intersected only for a brief moment in time, and I wondered how she would have experienced and remembered our interaction. I prayed she would have thought of it as helpful and caring. If not, I would deeply regret it.

That got me thinking. We strive so hard to live good lives, to be “happy,” to find our way, and to create success and joy, and share it with others. But I’ve realized lately that it’s just not that complicated. It’s very simple, in fact.

Maybe living well, with happiness and without regret, is simply about demonstrating in physical reality five essential traits that help us leave this world a better place than we found it.

Here are those 5 traits…

KindnessKindness is the sweetness of life. It’s a gentle hand when we’re down, a non-judging, listening ear when we have a problem, and it’s an unselfish act that puts the bestinterests of others first. It’s giving without looking for “what’s in it for me.”

CaringCaring is about taking the time to focus intently on someone, to show that their issues and problems are important, and their worldview matters. Caring means that you validate the individual before you (even if you don’t agree), and show that you understand who they are at their core, and love and respect that essence.

CompassionCompassion represents empathy for others, the emotion we feel in response to the suffering or experiences of others that inspires in us a desire to help and shows that we can stand in their shoes, and we’re heart-and-soul connected. I’ve observed that those who were raised without compassion, without empathy – by parents who were narcissistic, cruel, distorted, and unable to feel compassion – feel the severest forms of pain, isolation, and suffering.

HelpfulnessIn working with women to move away from careers they dislike, I’ve seen there is often a sense of meaning, purpose and helpfulness that is missing and that they long for. As Maria Nemeth shared in her powerful book The Energy of Money, we are all happiest when we’re demonstrating in physical reality what we know to be true about ourselves, when we’re giving form to our Life Intentions in ways that help others.

TruthfulnessFinally, people experience deep suffering from the lies they’ve told – to themselves and to others. Lying reflects a critical fear that we are not “enough” – not strong, smart, courageous, good or powerful enough – to deal with the real consequences of our true actions and beliefs. But lying hurts. When you lie, you rob yourself and others of the chance to evaluate fully how best to move forward.

Are you longing to live more fully, honestly, lovingly, and openly, with-out regret?

Click here to read Kathy’s full LinkedIn article 5 Traits to Embrace To Live Without Regret.

To build a happier, more rewarding life and career, visit KathyCaprino.com

It’s YOUR time to shine.