Will you die with these regrets?
Yesterday I read a blog Regrets of the Dying from palliative carer Bronnie Ware who shares from her experience the most common regrets that people have when they are facing death. It is a humbling read but the saddest thing about this post was that none of the answers were a surprise.
She says the 5 most common regrets are:
- I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
- I wish I didn’t work so hard.
- I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
- I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
- I wish that I had let myself be happier.
What I find sad is that these regrets are the same regrets that their parents’ generation probably died with. And I assert that my generation will most likely die with, unless something changes in our mass psyche.
It seems like we are living our lives in survival mode; even if we have a fancy roof over our heads, more food than we need and access to all the latest technology.
Notice that none of the regrets have any material bearing, so why is it that the majority of product advertising that is thrust upon us will make us appear cooler, richer, better looking, rather than happier and more fulfilled?
This brings up more questions about the way the things work in this world…
Why are actors and singers more revered and wealthy than people who dedicate their lives to saving the environment or bringing communities out of poverty, abuse, ill health and war?
Why are magazine covers so airbrushed that women no longer look real?
Why do political parties in Australia focus more on slamming other parties than sharing and standing by their own policies?
Why are there more shops selling junk food than tasty, healthy food?
Why are banks and pharmaceutical companies private and for-profit, rather than community services?
Why is it, that people who are doing what they are passionate about are the exception rather than the rule?
Why are we OK with all of this?
Imagine if our empowerment, fulfilment and community as a human race progressed as quickly as our advances in technology. Life would be very different.
Many of the answers to these questions are confronting, and the problems can seem insurmountable, and so for the most part it is easier to carry on our safe little lives, doing what we always do.
And then there is the other choice.
To step out, stand for something, create something, inspire someone or make something happen in the world that will give you a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment when you face your final hours.
What do you choose?
9:43 am
Yeah! Love it, just what I needed to read, and so true! I’ve just been recording the videos for the first every Green Dreams Launch Pad course (starts today!). I’ve been truly speaking from my heart about how to use the power of faith and positive thinking to create some real shifts for the planet and it’s been challenging for me at times, and hard, but it feels so right to speak my heart’s truth! Here’s a ten min vid I recorded about how to apply the law of attraction to going green, it’s very much in alignment with this blog: http://vimeo.com/24672547
Love,
Charlotte
xx
1:04 pm
Hey Charlotte! I love the concept! Good luck with your course, I am looking forward to seeing the participants out there creating exciting things! xx
11:17 pm
Hey Serena, well written. It is a sad fact that we have been over-run by the media and are oblivious to how they have changed our lives. All the “must haves” which temporarily fill the gap – until we buy the next “thing”. Finding something to be passionate about is so invigorating. It doesn’t need to be perfect, or what everyone else is passionate about. It has to feel right for you. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone lived their dream and lived with passion. Now, that’s worth waiting for.
11:46 pm
Hey Sue, yes – there seems to be a lot of gap filling. It’s amazing to watch people start something they are really passionate about, you can see people transform mentally and physically. It’s fun to do and it is fun to watch others do it too!
2:39 pm
Hi Serena,
Am just finishing your book (last chapter). It is inspiring but I really need to re-read it so that I can take action. Congratulations and best wishes. You’ve done what I’d like to do. Actually, I walked past a church near my office yesterday and the undertakers had just unloaded a coffin. It does make one think about the tragedy of spending one’s days doing a job one does not like all the while bursting to do interesting things and enjoy life more.
2:55 am
Hey Helen, nothing like death to make you appreciate life eh! Thanks for the comments, if you are seriously in an action mood check out The Course tab, the course starts in a few weeks! Cheers, Serena : )
8:46 pm
Hi Serena
I decided last week to give myself an ascape plan, hate 9-5 work in an office. So decided to pay off debts first then start working for myself. I have no real idea of what that will be but I am quite clear abourt what it will involve.
Saw an article in the paper about you and thought, if you can do it so can I.
There is more to life than a paycheck!!!!!
4:35 pm
Hey Trudi,
Good on you! It is an exciting journey and sooo worth the work to set something up! It also really helps to be working when you develop your plan, you have more ability to be choosy and get your business to a certain point while you still have the security of a regular income. You just need to be really motivated to come home after work and then start working again! Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you again on here!
1:50 pm
My husband is going through agonies trying to decide whether or not to retire . As in all things in life you need to know where you are going in order to get there. I have read your articles with great interest but have come to the conclusion that unless you know what it is that you can do in order to start a business of your own ‘with passion’ how do you go about it ?
4:54 pm
Hi Marie,
You are right, it can be daunting when you can’t see the access to creating an income. There are plenty of opportunities online and offline depending on what lights your fire. I find that often people start their first business or website and then through the process discover what they really want to do!
My advice is to choose a business that has a low cost of entry (that’s why I love the web!) so that you can spend some time learning. Once you have some experience it will open up a whole world for you and you will start to see how many opportunities there really are.
If you have any questions feel free to email me serena@star-coaching.net
Cheers,
Serena : )
7:44 pm
Hey Serena, you made some great points here. The media has a lot to answer for today, some of the most shallow and superficial people are the most revered.
I wrote an alternative list on my blog, just for another way of looking at things.