In my journey of building companies and exploring what makes life meaningful, I’ve noticed a common thread. Many of us are shackled by certain habits that seem innocuous but end up robbing our potential for happiness, particularly as we age.
It’s easy to brush these habits aside or dismiss them as inconsequential. But the longer we hold onto them, the more they shape our experiences, especially in our later years.
Here are seven habits that you need to let go of if you want to embrace happiness in your golden years.
1) Holding onto past regrets
It’s natural for us to reflect on our past decisions and, at times, regret them. However, dwelling on these regrets can transform into a chronic habit that diminishes our happiness and peace of mind.
Regret has a sneaky way of keeping us stuck in the past, preventing us from fully engaging with the present moment. It’s a trap that’s easy to fall into, but incredibly difficult to escape from.
To cultivate happiness in the later years of life, we need to say goodbye to past regrets. Not erase them or pretend they don’t exist, but acknowledge them as experiences that shaped us and then let them go.
Action is the antidote to regret. Once we accept and learn from our past, we can channel our energy into creating a fulfilling present and future. The key is to shift from pondering over what could have been to focusing on what can still be.
Let go of your past regrets. Embrace the present moment. Start now.
2) Seeking validation from others
We all want to be seen, understood, and accepted. It’s part of our human nature. But when we start seeking validation from others, our sense of self-worth becomes contingent upon their approval.
I think most of us have been there at some point — counting on other people’s acceptance to validate our worth. But this habit only leads to more insecurity and dependence.
To be truly happy in your later years, we need to say goodbye to the habit of seeking validation from others and start validating ourselves.
Our worth is not up for debate. It’s inherent. And it’s high time we recognized that.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
It’s time to let go of external validation and embrace self-acceptance. Start now.
3) Being trapped by societal conditioning
We grow up absorbing societal norms, expectations, and beliefs. These can form invisible chains that confine our thoughts and actions. Having lived in cities across the world — from Melbourne to London, New York, Bangkok, and now Singapore — I’ve seen how powerfully cultural conditioning shapes what people believe is possible for them.
Saying goodbye to societal conditioning is fundamental to embracing happiness in our later years. It’s about reclaiming our authenticity and individuality, breaking free from the molds society tries to fit us into.
I found valuable support in this endeavor through a masterclass titled Free Your Mind, which I co-created with the shaman Rudá Iandê as part of The Vessel. This journey is designed to help you transcend limiting beliefs and societal conditioning, fostering greater freedom in your life.
In this masterclass, you’ll learn to dismantle the most common myths in the spiritual world, break free from mental and cultural conditioning, and avoid spiritual manipulation. It’s an opportunity to align your thoughts and actions with your core values, leading to improved mental clarity and emotional resilience.
If you’re committed to breaking free from societal conditioning and embracing your true nature, I highly recommend checking out this masterclass. Start your journey towards mental and emotional liberation now.
4) Living life on autopilot
Many of us go through life on autopilot, following the same routines, patterns, and behaviors day in, day out. Living life without truly experiencing it, like a robot following a programmed path.
This state of being is often an extension of societal conditioning. We’re programmed to fit into certain roles, follow certain paths without ever stopping to question — Is this what I truly want? Does this align with my core values?
To be truly happy in your later years, we need to switch off the autopilot mode and start living consciously. It’s about making mindful decisions that align with our values and desires, rather than just going with the flow.
Living life on autopilot can feel safe and comfortable. But it’s a false comfort that robs us of our potential for growth and fulfillment.
So I ask you — Are you living your life, or is life living you? Start consciously creating your reality now.
5) Pursuing wealth over purpose
In our society, there’s a common belief that accumulating wealth is the ultimate goal. That the more money we have, the happier we’ll be. I’ve seen this play out countless times, with people sacrificing their passions and values at the altar of wealth.
But to be truly happy in your later years, it’s imperative to prioritize purpose over wealth. It’s about aligning our financial decisions with our deepest values and using money as a tool for positive change, not as an end goal.
Wealth without purpose is just numbers in a bank account. It can buy comfort, but not fulfillment. It can buy possessions, but not purpose.
True prosperity isn’t just about the accumulation of wealth. It’s about living in alignment with your values and being a force for positive change in the world.
Money is a tool, not a master. Start using it to fuel your purpose now.
6) Avoiding confrontation with fears
We’re all afraid of something. And it’s human nature to avoid things that scare us. I’ve been there — letting fears dictate decisions and limit potential.
But to find true happiness, especially in our later years, we need to confront our fears. Not run from them or deny them, but face them head-on.
Confronting our fears doesn’t mean we have to immediately overcome them. It’s about acknowledging them, understanding their roots, and gradually chipping away at their power over us.
Fears can be powerful barriers to our happiness, but they can also be transformative catalysts for growth and self-awareness. When we choose to face our fears, we open the door to a more authentic and fearless version of ourselves.
Don’t let your fears dictate your life. Start tackling them head-on now.
7) Valuing image over authenticity
In an age of social media and curated lives, it’s tempting to prioritize how we appear over who we actually are. We spend energy maintaining an image rather than cultivating genuine connection and self-understanding.
But as we move into our later years, the gap between image and authenticity becomes harder to sustain — and more damaging to our wellbeing. The people who seem most at peace with themselves are those who’ve stopped performing for an audience and started living for themselves.
True happiness comes not from how others perceive us, but from how honestly we engage with our own lives. When we let go of the need to project a certain image, we create space for deeper relationships, genuine self-expression, and lasting peace of mind.
Stop curating. Start living authentically. The freedom is worth it.
