8 wake-up calls we often receive a little too late in life (a toolkit for life)​

Life has a way of delivering crucial lessons right when they’re needed most, though it’s often only in hindsight that we recognize them.

These are the moments that shake us out of complacency, compelling us to reassess and make changes. Unfortunately, they often arrive when it’s too late to reverse course.

This article highlights 8 of those wake-up calls that many people encounter a bit too late. Think of it as a guide to help you navigate life’s challenges and avoid some of the common missteps along the way.

Let’s get started.

1. Ignoring our health

One wake-up call that many people tend to overlook until it’s too late is their health. We often find ourselves too engrossed in our daily grind, overlooking the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Trust me, as a mindfulness enthusiast, I can tell you that health isn’t just about regular check-ups and balanced meals. It’s also about taking time to rest, to de-stress, and to simply enjoy being alive.

Unfortunately, many of us fail to acknowledge this until we’re confronted with health issues. Only then do we realize how valuable our health is and how much we took it for granted.ay.

2. Neglecting personal relationships

Here’s a wake-up call that hit me personally: the importance of nurturing relationships.

A few years ago, I was so engrossed in my work building Hack Spirit, my passion project, that I barely noticed the distance growing between me and my loved ones. It wasn’t until a dear friend pointed out how I’d missed multiple gatherings and celebrations that I realized the toll my dedication was taking on my personal relationships.

Yes, we should pursue our passions and strive for success, but not at the expense of the relationships that matter to us.

Life isn’t just about achieving milestones. It’s also about sharing these successes and moments with those who matter most to us. Let’s not wait for a wake-up call to remind us of this.

3. Living with a bloated ego

Here’s a wake-up call that can be quite humbling: recognizing the negative impact of an inflated ego.

Many of us, myself included, have fallen into the trap of letting our egos dictate our actions and perceptions. We get caught up in our own self-importance, ignoring the feelings and needs of others.

In my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I delve deep into this issue. I discuss how living with an inflated ego not only hampers our personal growth but also affects our relationships and overall happiness.

It’s a wake-up call when we realize that our ego is standing in the way of our growth and fulfillment. And it’s never too late to humble ourselves, to listen more, and to make genuine connections with others.

As Buddhism teaches us, living with a minimum ego leads to maximum impact. It’s about being present, mindful, and connected – with ourselves and others. Let’s make it a point to check our egos at the door every once in a while.

4. Procrastinating on important tasks

Procrastination is a wake-up call many of us wish we’d heeded sooner. It’s easy to fall into the trap of “I’ll do it later”, but this can lead to a cycle of stress and guilt that affects our mental health and productivity.

Psychologically, we procrastinate because our brains are wired to prioritize immediate gratification over long-term rewards. It’s a survival mechanism that doesn’t always serve us well in today’s complex world.

Overcoming procrastination isn’t about sheer willpower; it’s about understanding why we do it and implementing strategies to break the cycle. This could mean breaking tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, using tools or apps to keep track of deadlines, or setting aside specific times each day for focused work.

As psychologist Carl Jung once said, “You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.” Let’s not let procrastination define us. Instead, let’s take action today for a more productive tomorrow.

5. Fear of failure

Here’s a wake-up call that may surprise you: fear of failure can often hold us back more than failure itself.

We’ve been conditioned to view failure as something negative, something to be avoided at all costs. But this fear can paralyze us, preventing us from taking risks and stepping out of our comfort zones.

In reality, failure is a crucial part of growth. Each failure brings with it valuable lessons and opportunities for improvement. It’s through failing that we learn, evolve, and become better versions of ourselves.

Instead of fearing failure, let’s embrace it. Let’s see it as a stepping stone towards success, not as a stumbling block. After all, as psychologist Albert Bandura once said, “In order to succeed, people need a sense of self-efficacy, to struggle together with resilience to meet the inevitable obstacles and inequities of life.”

6. Neglecting self-care

Another wake-up call that often comes too late is the importance of self-care. We all lead busy lives, juggling multiple responsibilities, and it’s all too easy to neglect our own needs.

But self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. It’s about taking care of our own mental, emotional, and physical well-being. This includes everything from getting enough sleep and eating nutritious food to taking time out for relaxation and hobbies.

Ignoring self-care can lead to burnout, stress, and even health problems. So let’s make a commitment to ourselves to prioritize self-care, no matter how busy life gets.

As psychologist Carl Rogers famously said: “The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination.”

7. Not expressing feelings

Let’s talk about feelings, or rather, the lack of expressing them. It’s easy to fall into the trap of bottling up emotions, especially when they’re negative. We might think we’re sparing others discomfort or protecting ourselves from vulnerability.

However, suppressing emotions can lead to a host of problems, from strained relationships to mental health issues. It’s important to express emotions in a healthy and constructive way.

It took a heated disagreement with a close friend and the subsequent fallout to realize this. The issue wasn’t the disagreement itself—it was the accumulation of unvoiced concerns that had been simmering beneath the surface.

Learning to express emotions doesn’t mean lashing out or blaming others. It’s about communicating feelings honestly and respectfully, fostering understanding and connection rather than conflict.

8. Chasing material success at the expense of happiness

The final wake-up call is realizing that material success doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness. It’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of wealth, status, and possessions, only to find that they don’t bring the fulfillment we expected.

In fact, studies have shown that beyond a certain point, wealth doesn’t significantly increase happiness. What truly matters are things like relationships, meaningful work, personal growth, and giving back to the community.

Let’s not wait until it’s too late to recognize this. Let’s strive not just for material success, but also for a life filled with joy, purpose, and connection.

Final thoughts: It’s about awareness and choice

Understanding these wake-up calls is not about self-blame or regret. Rather, it’s about gaining insight into our lives, our choices, and our paths. It’s about learning from these lessons and making conscious decisions that lead us towards a more fulfilling life.

In my book Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I delve deeper into some of these concepts, discussing how we can apply ancient wisdom to modern life for greater balance and fulfillment.

Life is an ongoing journey. Each stage, each decision, each moment is a step on this journey. And these wake-up calls? They’re just signposts along the way. They’re there to guide us, to help us navigate our path more effectively.

As you reflect on these insights, consider how they resonate with your own experiences. Maybe you’ve already encountered some of these wake-up calls. Or perhaps they’re yet to come. Either way, the awareness you gain from this reflection can profoundly shape your future choices and actions.

As we journey through life, let’s strive not just for success or material wealth but for a deeper sense of purpose, connection, and fulfillment. After all, these are the true measures of a life well-lived.