Do you ever feel like every decision you made in life was wrong?

Question

I feel like every decision I made was wrong like I managed to lock myself in a cage of my own design maybe I made the wrong choices but I don't think there was ever a right one I was just presented with awful options and I choose what I thought would hurt me the least.

like I just kept running on the hope of being Free just to hit different set of bars. Don't get it twisted I'm not suicidal. Just hopeless. But I guess truly hope is a dangerous thing. But you can't change the past and I have a long way to go even if it's year's in a cage

Do you ever feel like every decision you made in life was wrong?

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

Not every decision, but, yes, quite often.
This is a major reason why it is important for you to, as soon as you possibly can (and I can't emphasize that "soon" part enough), to learn who you are. That is, to know and honestly admit to yourself your:
* Strengths and weakness
* What you will put up with and what you won't
* What you like and dislike
* What you really want vs. what's a fad
* Are you a flightly / fickle person or someone who is steadfast
* Are you a fighter or a quitter or a mediator
* Are you an extravert who needs connections and affirmation or are you an introvert, someone who is fine going it alone.
* Are you sensitive to "judgment" or don't give a rat's ass what others think or feel.
* Are you easy-going or stubborn
etc.

When you know who you are, you will make better decisions for YOU.

I cannot emphasize this enough. Knowing yourself is the greatest journey in life that you can undertake and the sooner you know and accept who you are, the happier you will be.

Here's an example.
You and a friend are going out to dinner, a seafood restaurant like Red Lobster.
You hate seafood and its overpriced anyway.
However, you've always been an easy-going person and don't want to upset your friend. At the same time, you secretly don't want to go not only because you don't like the food but that money is better spent elsewhere like on paying a utility bill or gas or a restaurant you like.

If you know that you are easy-going, then, what you could do is make some sort of excuse not to go or to recommend something else that you both might like. That's a win-win and you are satisfied with your decision.

However, if you don't realize you are easy-going, you likely will go anyway, but you'll end up regretting it. It's a bad decision for you personally. (It still might be a decent decision because it's an investment in your relationship with this friend, but that's a different issue.)

On a tangent, consider learning the precepts of Buddhism including the idea of Impermanence.
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AI Overview

Impermanence, or anicca in Pali, is a fundamental Buddhist doctrine that states all things are in a constant state of flux. It's one of the "three marks" of existence in Buddhism, along with anatta (no permanent self) and dukkha (suffering).

What does impermanence mean?
* Impermanence means that everything changes and nothing lasts forever. This includes our emotions, thoughts, feelings, bodies, and the world around us.
* The Buddha taught that embracing change, rather than longing for permanence, is the path to peace and joy.

How does impermanence impact life?
* Accepting impermanence can change how we see the world and live our lives.
* It can be freeing to know that even suffering is changeable.
* Recognizing the impermanence of everything is a first step in a Buddhist's spiritual progress toward enlightenment.

How do Buddhists relate to impermanence?
* Buddhists believe that human suffering is caused by attachment to impermanent things.
They also believe that change can be refreshing and renewing.

Lowly_Grumper · Accepted Answer

I feel like every decision i ever made was guided by our lord jesus christ and I'm a flawless white supremacist.

dustybiker2 · Accepted Answer

Sure. When looking back it's easier to remember the bad because there is often more of it.
We are all faced with options in the heat of the moment. Up close it's impossible to know exactly which choice is best, so we often choose poorly without knowing it.
When you lose you learn.

PeachyPie93 · Accepted Answer

No.. everything I did in life was for my own survival.. things might not have went my way or may have turned out badly but they all taught me something and helped me along this pitiful journey.

Sonorous · Answer

No not really. I do not believe in objective right or wrong. I can admit that certain paths in life can be more beneficial for survival, but if they're not, it wouldn't make them inherently wrong. If something is allowed to exist in the first place, it means that it has purpose.

LifeHitMeandRan · Answer

I believe EVERYONE feels like this at some point in their lives. Wait until you reach 30. Somewhere near 30 is the age where many people realize they are no longer young and feel the pressures of choices made. They look back and wonder what they could've done better.

The ONLY two times a decision should be regretted is if you made it with the intent to harm others and if you did not learn from it to make you a better person the next time. Regret will eat at you. If you made the best decision you could, given the knowledge you had at the time of the decision, then there is nothing to regret. Hindsight is 20/20.

For the future, when you make decisions, always ask yourself the following:

1. What am I trying to gain?

2. Will this decision negatively impact me or others?

3. Does this decision align with the morals I want to have?

Summeroflove · Answer

It happens but there is a difference between people who can see it, who can hold themselves accountable, take responsibility, learn, grow, try to make things right, and be a better human being. But on the other side of people who see it but choose to double down, make excuses, and just learn to move through the world hurting themselves and most of all others to get what they feel like they want.

People make mistakes and bad choices. All of us… But you’re the only one who can repent of it by truly feeling guilt, shame, regret, remorse, and everything else. As much as it hurts people who don’t allow themselves to feel that could be at risk of loosing it forever and becoming cold dark people. Eventually you will get through it and forgive yourself while also learning.

ProbablyClueless · Answer

No, I haven't ever been in that position, personally. Success and failure in life are very the products of little decisions we make every day.

I think the main reason I haven't found myself in that position is because I live my life with a great deal of intention. I've pretty much always had this this philosophy of running towards things, instead of away from other things. Even if the direction I'm running would be the same either way, difference is whether I'm advancing or retreating.

Lynx122 · Answer

No I feel like every decision I made was right :). You're still young the main thing is just to gain some life experience and with time you'll gain new perspectives and then you can still adjust your path in a different direction if you think it's needed.

Shiprex · Answer

I think every decision is neither good or bad but a choice on a journey through life. How you perceive it though is up to you. Sure if the goal you hoped to achieve isn't achieved then it's a learning stage, a chapter of growth and development. See it as a pathway to a better more informed and aware you.

The main thing is have compassion for yourself and awareness that you choose how you perceive events around you, not the events.

AaaAviii123 · Answer

No, each decision you make shapes your future experiences. Without suffering and learning, you wouldn’t truly appreciate the highs that life offers. Every challenge becomes a lesson, you just have to learn to look past the negatives and see it that way as well as learn from it.

Anonymous · Answer

Sounds like you're exasperated and feeling powerless. But you are young and there's time left.

For me, every miss step, every bad or wrong decision, missed opportunity, and all the good has all lead me to where I am now, feeling how I now do, and making me the person I am now. And I like me which makes it all absolutely necessary. I just made some things harder than they needed to be.

MaxW1 · Answer

Well sometimes you have to choose the best decision even if both are bad, or good. there won't always be a good and bad choice. Especially since when you're young and a doofus, you'll make bad decisions

genericname85 · Answer

no. i don't live in the past. i know there's decision i made that might have been wrong but i rest asure that every major decision i did make was the best decision for me to make with the ressources available to me at the time.

Anonymous · Answer

Every day of my life I keep thinking I made the wrong decision about almost everything. Sometimes I think the people I used to know and still know might had been better off if they had not known me and unlike you I really do wish I wasn't alive anymore. When you've lost as many people and pets as I have and you have nothing left you start to think that they were all the lucky ones that when is it going to be my turn and it should of been me instead

Miristheiss · Answer

Ahhhh, the George Kastanza "opposite". If every decision you've made is wrong then doing the opposite would have to be right.

midnightmoon05 · Answer

I have made great decisions in my life time.  You can look back and see what happened. Never too late to learn and reflect.

strateguy632 · Answer

But "every" is too extreme. We all DO make some mistakes but not every choice.

Valdemort · Answer

That seems inevitable, though in the end- a decision was consciously made, so I guess at some point I felt it was the right thing to do.

monkeynutts · Answer

Sorry to here this. I made my decisions, I didn't want to be filthy rich, or a sociopathic boss of my own company, successful people have problems too. Just try to set some new goals, and start new, change is liberating.

leahzrc · Answer

Yes but I keep faith in Jesus that everything will turn out right. He listens to every heart that cries for him.

NicholasRedone · Answer

Once a man finds acceptance that I'm just clumsy, life's peachy and the world is my oyster on the daily :) cheer all cheer up

FreyaRed · Answer

The contrary. I think most decisions I made were right.

TheLovelyWoman · Answer

Yes. After 17+ years of marriage, I feel like I made the wrong decision to marry my husband.

Phoenix98 · Answer

Some choices do feel like that but most of them do not.

thestateofdk · Answer

Yes. I feel like this often. Sure, some of it is depression but I also made/make terrible life choices. The thing is though, hindsight is 20/20. Don't let it get you down. We all make mistakes and learn from them (hopefully).

Nerdvana · Answer

I think most people have. It's a part of life and growing up. What specific decisions?

Likes2drive · Answer

Yeah usually my first decision is the best one but I sometimes don’t follow through and get stuck with a bad decision

Blueeyes81 · Answer

All the time. Hindsight is 20/20. I just try to learn from past choices I thought were correct but went south in a hurry.

Johnkramer98 · Answer

it is what makes us the most angry. the situations we find ourselves due to our own lack of judgement

Crazzyyworld · Answer

Yes everything. But I see the bright side. I am not dead yet

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Answer

No, I don’t hold such regret for my choices

Nikki1989 · Answer

Thankfully, never.

ChicoFromThe305 · Answer

Yep but it's only til you see results

Uglygaypoorcoward94 · Answer

Yeah but thats because im a loser

KatieK92 · Answer

Everything happens for a reason

Pohjolan · Answer

Nah I've done a few right calls also.

nicfire171 · Answer

Do you need to talk?

JoMoe · Answer

Sometimes

LiamJHayden · Answer

No I do not.

Ladsin2 · Answer

Never.

Anonymous · Answer

Usually

Anonymous · Answer

Nope.

Do you ever feel like every decision you made in life was wrong?

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