Do THIS and get the life you want... 🌅

Hey man!

In our last email…

we talked about the burden of stoicism…

and the power of vulnerability.

Today...

we tackle another secret pain...

that haunts many men: Regret and Unfulfilled Dreams.

As men enter their 40s and 50s...

they often find themselves reflecting on the roads not taken...

the opportunities missed...

and the dreams left behind [1].

It's a painful realization that can leave you feeling like time is running out...

and that your best years are behind you. [5] 😞

But here's the truth: It's never too late to start living the life you've always wanted. 💪

Take Colonel Sanders, for example.

(Yeah… that one.)

He didn't start his iconic Kentucky Fried Chicken empire until he was in his 60s! [6]🍗 

Or look at Ray Kroc, who didn't open his first McDonald's franchise until he was 52. [7]🍔 

And let's not forget about Sam Walton, who founded Walmart at the ripe age of 44. [8] 🛒

These men prove that age is just a number...

and that it's never too late to pursue your passions and make your mark on the world. 🌍

And leave a dent in the Universe. ⚡

From a neuroscience perspective...

regret is a powerful emotion that activates the same brain regions... associated with physical pain [2][9][10][11].

read that again.

When YOU...

(yes you reading this)....

dwell on past mistakes or missed opportunities...

like...

• divorce...
  
  

• one-night stands...
  
  

• Incurable STDs...
  
  

• drunk driving...
  
  

• jail...
  
  

• cursing out your boss...
  
  

• getting fired...
  
  

• a mid-life crisis...
  
  

• and a bad relationship with your kids...
  
  

YOU ARE reliving that emotional pain...

on REPEAT... like a bad song stuck in your head.

Think ... Island Boys ... "I'm an Island Boy"...

Sorry.

Now that shitty song is stuck in your head.

But here's the good news...

YOU have the power to reframe Your thoughts and cut regret.

One practical tip is to practice self-compassion [3][12].

Instead of beating yourself up over past choices...

treat yourself with kindness and understanding.

Recognize that everyone makes mistakes...

and that those experiences have helped shape who YOU are today.

Another way to make the most of your second half of life...

is to focus on the present moment and set meaningful goals for the future.

Start by identifying your core values and passions.

What makes you feel alive and fulfilled?

Use that as a compass to guide your decisions moving forward.

So how can you stop looking back and start living now?

Here's a simple fix:

Set one micro-goal for yourself this week.

It could be something as small as calling an old friend you've lost touch with...

write a letter to a friend, family member, or mentor... thank them for being in your life...

or start that side project you've been putting off for years.

The key is to take that first step, no matter how small it may seem. 🐾

As the saying goes...

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now." 🌳

For more inspiration on how to embrace the present and live a life without regrets...

here are three powerful book recommendations:

1. "The Magic of Thinking Big" by David J. Schwartz - This classic self-help book will help you... tap into your full potential... and achieve your biggest dreams. 📘
   
   

2. "Atomic Habits" by James Clear - Learn how to build good habits... break bad ones... and make small changes that lead to BIG results. 📙
   
   

3. "The Wisdom Books: Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes:" by Robert Alter - Dive into ancient Biblical wisdom that helps you unpack life's biggest questions... and offers you timeless insights for navigating the human experience. 📕

Remember, your past does not define your future.

You have the power to create the life you've always dreamed of, starting right now. 💫

So grab a journal...

write down that one goal you want to do this week...

and take that first small step towards making it a reality…

Science PROVES … there’s power in writing it down…

if you do…

you’ll most likely get what you write on paper. [4][13]

To your limitless potential,

Mens Health Secrets
–Live Past 100

P.S. In our next email, we'll tackle the relationships that matter most and how to fix them. Stay tuned! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

P.P.S. >>> Go here to subscribe to our Mens Health Secrets YouTube Channel if you haven't yet…. leave a comment… and level up your Mens Health knowledge to live longer.

P.P.P.S. Always consult your doctor before starting any new protocol or treatment, including our tips. This is for edu-tainment only, not medical advice. 🩺 

Business & Medical References:

[1] Waldinger, R. J., & Schulz, M. S. (2023). The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. Simon & Schuster. ISBN: 978-1982166700 

[2] Gilovich, T., Medvec, V. H., & Kahneman, D. (1998). Varieties of regret: A debate and partial resolution. Psychological Review, 105(3), 602–605. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.105.3.602 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232514768_Varieties_of_Regret_A_Debate_and_Partial_Resolution

[3] Zhang, J. W., & Chen, S. (2016). Self-compassion promotes personal improvement from regret experiences via acceptance. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 42(2), 244-258. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167215623271

[4] King, L. A. (2001). The Health Benefits of Writing about Life Goals. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(7), 798-807. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167201277003 (Original work published 2001) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247895325_The_Health_Benefits_of_Writing_about_Life_Goals

[5] Gilovich, T., & Medvec, V. H. (1995). The experience of regret: What, when, and why. Psychological Review, 102(2), 379–395. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.102.2.379 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15459284_The_Experience_of_Regret_What_When_and_Why

[6] Ozersky, J. (2012). Colonel Sanders and the American Dream. Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN: 978-0292742857

[7] Kroc, R. (2016). Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s. Chicago: Griffin. ISBN: 978-1250127501

[8] Walton, S., & Huey, J. (1993). Sam Walton: Made in America. New York: Doubleday. ISBN: 978-0553562835

[9] Eryilmaz H, Van De Ville D, Schwartz S, Vuilleumier P. Impact of transient emotions on functional connectivity during subsequent resting state: a wavelet correlation approach. Neuroimage. 2011 Feb 1;54(3):2481-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.10.021. Epub 2010 Oct 16. PMID: 20955802.

[10] Coricelli, G., Critchley, H. D., Joffily, M., O’Doherty, J. P., Sirigu, A., & Dolan, R. J. (2005). "Regret and its avoidance: A neuroimaging study of choice behavior." Nature Neuroscience, 8(9), 1255–1262. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1514.

[11] Kross, E., Berman, M. G., Mischel, W., Smith, E. E., & Wager, T. D. (2011). "Social rejection shares somatosensory representations with physical pain." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 108(15), 6270–6275. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1102693108.

[12] Neff, K. D., & Vonk, R. (2009). "Self-compassion versus global self-esteem: Two different ways of relating to oneself." Journal of Personality, 77(1), 23–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2008.00537.x.

[13] Morisano D, Hirsh JB, Peterson JB, Pihl RO, Shore BM. Setting, elaborating, and reflecting on personal goals improves academic performance. J Appl Psychol. 2010 Mar;95(2):255-64. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018478. PMID: 20230067. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/41967719_Setting_Elaborating_and_Reflecting_on_Personal_Goals_Improves_Academic_Performance