A nurse who worked in palliative care released a book named “ The Top Five Regrets of Dying”, which is an inclusion of her findings of the most common regrets people speak of on the deathbed. It’s fairly easy to see that all of these regrets are a result of us not paying enough attention to spend time on things we love.
Here is the list of each of the common regrets that she Below is the list of each regret along with an extract from the book
Being regretful could very well be the worst you could go through during the last moments of your life. Why let it happen?? There is no need to regret anything and in fact, you should not regret it as it gives nothing but suffering and spending your life’s last moments reminiscing about what you could not achieve.
At any point, you start regretting something, make it a point to take a lesson from it to adjust your future instead of falling behind. Life is a journey full of surprises and lessons. We learn something from the time we are born until we part. Being in regret will only push your learning curve back making you slow and lethargic. Learn to make changes quickly in order to be happy and avoid regret. Always remember that life is full of choices. So choose wisely and choose to live happily.
01. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me
“This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize until they no longer have it.
It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize until they no longer have it.”
02. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard
“This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle..”
03. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings
“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end, it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases an unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win”
04. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
“Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually, though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.”
05. I wish that I had let myself be happier
”This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.”
Quoted from the book titled “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying – A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing” by Bronnie Ware
