The Top Five Regrets of the Dying

Quick Background

Bronnie Ware spent years taking care of & speaking with dying people. These were their top 5 most common regrets...

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5 Regrets of the Dying

1) I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

"Of all the regrets and lessons shared with me as I lay besides their beds, the regret of not having lived a life true to themselves was the most common of all."

Reflection Question: Where are you holding yourself back due to the fear of judgement?

• Are you in a career you truly love, or is it the one that your parents always wanted for you?
• Are you staying in an unhealthy relationship just because you're afraid of what people will think if you leave?

2) I wish I hadn't worked so hard.

"There is nothing wrong with loving your work and wanting to apply yourself to it, but there is so much more to life. Balance is what is important, maintaining balance."

Reflection Question: Which area of your life feels out of balance right now?

• Do you need to schedule more time to take care of your mental / physical health?
• Do certain relationships need more of your attention right now?

3) I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings

"We must learn to express our feelings NOW. None us ever know when it will be too late. Tell people you love them. Tell them you appreciate them. If they can't accept your honesty or react in a different way to how you hoped, it doesn't matter. What matters is you have told them."

Reflection Question: Have you recently had a "falling-out" with someone you really love?

• Imagine if that person tragically died this instant... What would you have wished you told them? (Go tell them!)

4) I wish I'd stayed in touch with my friends

"I am missing my friends most of all. I wish I hadn't lost touch with them. You imagine your friends will always be there, but life moves on. Suddenly you find yourself with no-one in the world who understands you."

Reflection Question: Are you making enough time to connect with friends?

• When was the last time you hung out with them?
• Can you put something on the calendar right now?

5) I wish I let myself be happier

"I wish I'd let myself be happier. What a miserable person I have been. I just didn't think I deserved to be happy. But I do. I know that now. Laughing with you this morning, I realized that there was no need at all to feel guilty for being happy."

Reflection Question: Do you feel like you truly deserve happiness?

• Are you in a mindset of waiting to achieve "this" or "that" before you allow yourself to feel happy?
• Are you counting your small wins as they happen?​