Top 5 Regrets of the Dying

Death is an uncomfortable subject. 

Death is also undefeated.

We will all face it one day.

I think there is utility in thinking about it well before your final day.

Daniel Crosby, Ph.D. was on the Resilient Advisor Podcast recently (link) and one of the topics from his new book The Soul of Wealth (link) was about the work of Bronnie Ware. 

She is a palliative care nurse who spent years listening to the reflections of her patients in their final days. As the game of life was coming to an end for the people she served, she paid attention to them.

She has been able to hone in on the Top 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." How often do we push aside our dreams, fearing disapproval or judgment? I am very guilty of this. Consider one area in life where you could make a bold choice—just for you.
2. "I wish I hadn’t worked so hard." Work has its rewards, but too much comes at the cost of time with family, friends, and self. I am a workaholic and have always struggled with this mindset. I am typing this at 615 on a Friday night! As you map out your goals, are you factoring in balance?
3. "I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings." Unspoken feelings can create barriers in relationships. Do you have words left unsaid that could open new doors for understanding?
4. "I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends." Friendships are the backbone of a fulfilling life. Are there connections you want to rekindle or deepen? I know I have some!
5. "I wish that I had let myself be happier." This. Is. Hard!  Ask yourself: how can I bring more happiness into my life today?

Here is my favorite line from Daniel in our interview about this topic: 

"What's fascinating is how disconnected they (The top 5 Regrets) are from what we spend most of our lives worrying about." - Dr. Daniel Crosby

Note: Work only comes up once, with people wishing they worked less.

The Clip about The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying from the Resilient Advisor Podcast:

Grab a copy of Dr. Crosby's new book: Link