A lot of people who pass away do so with many regrets. Things they wish they did and those they wish they didn’t do. It’s really sad to spend so much of your life doing one thing or the other and have it end with so much pain and sorrow. We all have one shot at life and we ought to make the best of it. We should live our lives so that when we pass, regret won’t plague us on our last days.
Here’re the top regrets of people who are dying and how we can use them to live a more fulfilling life.
1. I wish I had lived my own life rather than how society taught me to live.
There are many things society teaches us about the stages of life. You go to school, get a good job, buy a house, get married, have kids. While this plan may work for some, it’s certainly not a one-size-fits-all plan. A lot of people live a life they think should be living according to society, friends, or family and end up with the realization that it was not the life they WANTED to live. Look around you and figure out what makes you happy, what you’re passionate about and live your own life now. Do the things that come naturally to you and stop trying to please everyone. “To thine own self be true.”
2. I wish I discovered my purpose earlier.
People who are dying usually have this regret. The number of years you spend outside your purpose is the number of years you spend living another person’s life. Some people never discover their purpose in life while some do it late in the game. Discovering your purpose early will help you channel all your energy towards that sole purpose thereby giving you speed. When you walk in purpose, you will achieve so much in very little time.
3. I wish I had taken more risks.
Some human beings have the tendency to live carefully, cautiously and seek security. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, sometimes it hinders us from achieving our destiny. There is no great or successful person who did not, at one point in their life, made a leap, took a big risk and have lived a more fulfilled life because of it.
4. I wish I had taken better care of myself.
A common regret for those who are dying of an illness or ailment. So many times, we take our body for granted and eat what we shouldn’t be eating, we don’t sleep as much as we should, we don’t exercise as often and in some cases, we work so hard, we forget to take a vacation. Life should be lived with a balance and taking care of yourself so you can live a long, healthy and happy life should be a top priority.
5. I wish I’d allowed myself to love.
Life’s hardships can turn a lot of people cynical to the world and relationships with other people. Sometimes, people avoid making a lot of friends or getting emotionally attached to avoid getting hurt. Petty arguments and grudges with loved ones build a wall that doesn’t allow you to forgive until it’s too late.
Studies have concluded that people who have friends and close relationships with their families are much happier with their lives as they have a support group around them for the good times and the bad times. Surrounding yourself with love and allow yourself to love, creates fond memories that you’ll cherish to the end.
6. I wish I had touched more lives and inspired more people.
It is common for people who are dying to look back unhappy because of the number of lives they touched and the legacy they left behind. The value of a life can be measured by the number of people it touches. Helping others not only benefits the person you’re helping but it benefits you inside as well. There’s a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in doing for your fellow man that money just can’t buy. Live your life with intentions to help and inspire others to become better and in return, you’ll be better for it as well.
7. I wish I had been a better partner or parent.
People who are dying have regrets whenever they think about their families; whether it be their mom, dad, siblings, spouses or children. They think about the nice words they wish they would have said more often, feelings they wish they had expressed, times they wish they had spent and places they wish they could have gone with them. Family is very important. Remind yourself to love and support your family. Spend more time with them and say, “I love you ” on a regular basis. It’s amazing how those three little words can enrich your family relationships. At the end of your journey, you’ll rest easy knowing that your loved ones know you cared about them.
