At the hour of your death, just before you breathe your last; highlights of the life you lived will flash before your eyes. Your mind will naturally present you with a report card based on how you lived,utilized opportunities, invested, learned and interacted with others. Regrets will also form part of this report.
The big question today is; what regrets will you face at that very last minute of your life? Bronnie Ware, an Australian nurse who has spent several years counseling dying patients in their last days released a list of top regrets that we (humans) have at the end of our lives.
Perhaps you should take this article as a personal lesson so that you can avoid some of the life mistakes that badly haunt those who die before reaching their full potential.
1.I wish I had cared less about what other people think
The most common regret in hospital beds comes from those who did not live true to their beliefs and instead struggled too hard to comply with what other people (and the world at large) think is the “best” way to live life. At the end, they bitterly come to learn that no one else and no other opinion matters more than your destiny, passion and self-realization.
The greatest success in life lies in living your life in your own way. So don’t waste your energy trying to live up to others expectations.
2.I wish I had taken better care of myself
According to Bronnie Ware’s study, this type of regret mainly comes from bread-winner patients who say they were too busy spending their lives on the treadmill of work existence until they forgot about life. Many die of chronic diseases that can be avoided by a change of lifestyle (alcoholism, stroke, diabetes etc.)
Clearly, while it is good to work hard, in business and everywhere else, it is not appropriate to sacrifice your life just for the sake of getting more money. No matter what you’re going through today, don’t forget to take good care of the person who matters the most in your life – and that is YOU.
3.I wish I had more time
When you are young, you’re full of energy and life seems like an endless eternity. Unfortunately, many are those who waste this time on irrelevant things only to realize later and regret badly.
On the death-bed, most people bitterly recount on moments wasted and opportunities missed. Unfortunately, this lesson comes in a bit too late. Don’t be caught up in this pitfall, starting making the most of every moment now.
4.I wish I had done more for other people
Doing things for others just makes life more meaningful. Unfortunately, most of us today have developed the habit of prioritizing “Me, Me, Me” forgetting that what we do for ourselves dies with us, but what we do for others is immortal.
Don’t be caught off-guard in an abandoned hospital bed simply because you led a selfish and withdrawn kind of lifestyle. Do good to others and they will stand by you even long after you’re gone. Do bad things to others and you’ll be forgotten the moment you breathe your last.
5.I should have saved more for a rainy day
Those who lived a life of merry-making and no-savings watch helplessly as their meager assets crumble under the weight of soaring hospital bills. They wish they had saved a little more to warrant them of a descent send off. They wish they had invested in medical cover. They also regret that they did not set aside enough resources for their children’s use long after they are dead. From an entrepreneur’s point of view, this could actually be the worst form of regret at the deathbed.
Final Word
Take a moment to reflect on your business and your life. Which one of the above-mentioned problems do you struggle with? What do you think is keeping you back? Let me know in the comments below.
