There are two big relationship events that can cause you to feel a ton of regret. The first is when your partner dies suddenly. You can find yourself wishing you had been kinder and more loving, among many other things. The second is when your partner decides to leave you. You can find yourself regretting a million things that you did or said to help bring your relationship to this point. Nobody should have to feel like that at the end of a relationship.
3 Big Reasons To Take On This Challenge
1. Your Relationship Will Improve
It’s simple: being the best partner you can be is the best way to create a better relationship.
Less stress.
Less fighting.
Less anger, hurt feelings, accusations, and distance.
More of all the good stuff that you signed up for when you first got together.
2. Your Entire Life Will Improve
One thing I learned from the Lifebook Quest on Mindvalley is that when you improve one area of your life, such as your intimate relationship, other areas of your life are affected in a positive way.
Maybe your self-confidence will increase and that will help you win over more opportunities at work.
Or, maybe your love life will inspire you to get healthier so you can be together forever and have a great time in the process.
The point is that your love life has a HUGE impact on the rest of your life. When you are miserable in your relationship, it’s almost guaranteed you are struggling in other areas of your life as well.
Don’t let your love life slip. Take on consistent challenges to make it stronger and better.
3. You’ll Feel More Confident About Yesterday
What you do today determines your tomorrow.
No matter what happens, at least you can say you tried.
If your partner leaves you, then you will have more confidence that it has everything to with them and nothing to do with you, because you were the best partner you could be.
If your partner passes away, you will know that while you were together, you did the best you could to wake up with no regrets each day.
Challenge: Do The Things You Know You Should Do
If your partner died tomorrow, what would you regret?
Make a list of things that you know you should do, but don’t. And then incorporate that list into your life.
For example, if you nitpick little things in your relationship and it causes your partner stress, that would be something you could regret. Adding stress on to your partner’s life when there is no need to do it is a huge issue. So, challenge yourself to keep your mouth shut about things that don’t really matter – or have anything to do with you. Make it a habit to keep your mouth closed when you feel like saying something unnecessary.
If you can’t think of some things to do, let the following list inspire you.
10 Ways to Wake Up With No Regrets in Your Relationship
Challenge yourself to do the things that help you wake up with no regrets in your relationship. That way, if something happens, you won’t have to say, “I wish I had done more.”
1. Make Your Partner Feel Good About Their Accomplishments
Compliment them on everything they do well – whether it’s big or small. Everyone feels good after a compliment, and most people strive to do better after they have been complimented as well. So it’s a win-win situation. You make them feel good and they strive to make you even more proud of them.
2. Give Them a Kiss and Say Goodnight before Bed
A lot of times we go to bed and fall asleep without a word to our partner. Not that there’s anything wrong with being comfortable enough with your partner to just zonk out without concluding your day together, but you will feel more connected if you give them a kiss and verbalize bedtime before you go to sleep.
3. Do Something Nice For Your Partner
It can be something as simple as grabbing them a glass of water before bed or as big as surprising them with a nice supper for two. Just do something that your partner appreciates.
4. Don’t Put Your Partner Down During the Day – Ever
Putting your partner down for any reason should be avoided. Even if you apologize for the event afterward the memory of the hurt caused is still there. You will feel bad for making your partner feel bad – and that can end up being a regret.
5. Spend Quality Time Together
Even if you just spend a few minutes a day together – that’s better than nothing. Spend some time reflecting on your day, and discussing your future plans together. There is a bond between you and your partner that no one else gets to have with you, so make sure to strengthen that bond every single day.
6. Say I Love You – Verbally or With Expression
Cliché? Yes. But it’s effective. Make sure to say or do something every day that conveys your love and affection for your partner.
7. Ask How You Can Do Better
If you screw up with your partner and they are obviously upset then ask how you can do better. Do not walk away, say nothing, or put it behind you without asking how you can do better for them. Both of you should be willing to put the effort in to improve the relationship dynamics, and the only way to do that is to understand each other better. The only way to do that is by asking your partner for feedback. Ask how you can do better.
8. Don’t Waste Your Free Time with TV And Other Distractions
If you barely see each other during the day and then you spend your entire evening in front of the TV watching other people’s lives, then you are literally wasting your own time together that could be better utilized. You are spending your life on other people’s lives when you sit and watch TV all night.
You WILL regret this.
Take some time out to participate in your own life and you will find that quality time will not be one regret that you have.
9. Don’t Take Your Frustration Out On Them
Do not put your anger, hurt, or jealousy from another situation onto your partner. Your partner is there to support you when times are rough, not take abuse from you to make you feel better. A lot of times we treat our co-workers well, even though they frustrate us, and then go home and take that frustration out on our relationship. Make sure you always treat your partner with the respect that they deserve.
10. Laugh A Ton
The biggest thing you can do with your partner that will ensure regrets will be far and few between? Laugh. Be silly together. Enjoy each other’s company, faults, stupidity, and everything else that comes your way. Make a joke out of something that could otherwise get quite ugly. You will always look back fondly on your laughter together; whereas you may regret that stupid fight over whose turn it was to do that stupid chore.
