041: Reverse-engineer from death to now for a life free of regrets

Regret has no remorse. Talk to a person who is about to die, ask about his regrets and listen carefully. You will know what resonates most and take action.

You do not want to regret anything in your life. What you have been regretting already you want to stop growing to not become this enormous heap of sadness that makes you burst into tears every time you realize its sheer size.

So no more regret is the goal. The best place to start having a regret-free life is by talking to people who are on their way towards the end of their life. If you have no chance of talking to older people your second-best bet is to read „The Top 10 Regrets Of The Dying“.

Although the following collection lists 10 common regrets older people had when they were running their last mile, it is worth reading them here and now because you can still do something about it (compared to those who expressed them):

  1. I wish I lived for myself more.
  2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
  3. I wish I didn’t hold back my feelings.
  4. I wish I stayed in touch.
  5. I wish I was happier.
  6. I wish I cared less of what others think.
  7. I wish I didn’t worry so much.
  8. I wish I took better care of myself.
  9. I wish I didn’t take life for granted.
  10. I wish I lived in the now.

I believe reading through this list should give you at least a little kick in the butt when your hesitation (speak: lack of motivation) kicks in.

For further and more in-depth reading consider the book „The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing“ by Bronnie Ware, a palliative nurse from Australia.

This was episode 41 of the #weekendpunchline 👊. Every Saturday and Sunday.


Also published on Medium.

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