You’re going to die someday.
Perhaps the 5 most powerful words ever spoken to
me. No matter how immortal we feel waltzing through
life’s ups and downs, we all must someday stare death
in its devious eyes as we reflect on our lives. Life is
complex, sure. That’s a given. But if you really ponder
for a moment, it can be boiled down to 2 feelings you’ll
most likely be met with on your deathbed:
Triumph or regret.
Thankfully, every day is a
great day to get better.
Every day is a perfect day
to change the track of your
life, to reroute the
potentially destructive
path of a life wasted.
What better place to start
than people in their final
days:
1. I wish I wouldn’t have compared myself to
others.
Everyone struggles with this, but there’s nearly
nothing that’s so detrimental to fulfillment. Instead of
comparing yourself to your friends, family, or idols,
reflect on how far you’ve come as a person, even if it’s
just the person you were yesterday.
2. I wish I’d taken action and dove in head first.
I’ll let you in on a little secret: there is no “right way.”
So many people are paralyzed by the idea of what they
want to be because they worry it won’t happen as
quickly as they want. Well, it won’t. But what’s worse
than dedicating time to your dream each day and
seeing snail-like progress? A life wasted doing things
you don’t want to.
3. I wish I’d tuned the world out more.
Everyone around you tries to dictate what you are or
who you should be, but you let them. No one needs to
validate your worth besides yourself, and you will
someday deeply regret if you spend your life pleasing
the world around you. Don’t worry about pleasing
your parents, friends, or bosses. You need to worry
about number 1 first and foremost. Always.
4. I wish I didn’t wait to “start it tomorrow.”
Excuses are plentiful because they’re so easy to make.
You will always find reasons to validate your inaction,
and this is a common cause of deathbed regret. The
things you want to do tomorrow can effortlessly turn
into things you wish you did 50 years ago.
5. I wish I’d taken more chances.
The fear of rejection or failure dissipates in the face of
death. The pretty girl you didn’t ask out on a date, the
job you didn’t apply for because you felt under
qualified, or the business you believed in but didn’t
start will weigh heavier on your shoulders than falling
flat on your face and learning.
6. I wish I would have kept going.
Even if you are brave enough to take the chance,
failure happens. Where this failure can turn into major
regret, however, is a decision to quit. When you let the
pressure of falling short overcome your love for your
endeavor, you lost. Keep going.
7. I wish I’d told others how much I love them.
Everyone wants to feel appreciated, but very few are
wiling to tell others how much they appreciate them.
So often we are wrapped up in gaining love but fail to
give it to the ones we care about most. Tell them
often, before it’s too late.
8. I wish I was content with what I have.
Be it more money, more recognition, or more options,
we always want more of something. Very few are able
to take an honest step back and recognize that what
they have is more than enough. It’s always good to
want more from life, but it’s essential to truly
appreciate what you have.
9. I wish I took better care of my body.
Today’s society tells us that “taking care of yourself” is
synonymous with a chiseled six pack. This is by no
means true. Making healthy choices is important in all
facets of life, not just physical exercise. Not eating
junk food, not smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, and
not drinking every weekend are 3 pretty easy ways to
start.
10. I wish I’d listened to others more.
Everyone thinks they’re right all the time and everyone
has opinions that they sometimes force on others. It’s
alright to have them, but it’s more important to have
the ability to listen. Even if you don’t agree with the
point of view, challenge yourself to hear others
without passing judgement.
11. I wish I’d have not held that grudge.
It’s discouraging when someone hurts you, especially
if that person means a lot to you. But harboring
grudges hurts you in the long term more than it did
initially.
12. I wish I’d have traveled more.
People often mistake that “traveling” has to involve a
foreign country and a couple thousand dollars.
Phooey. Jump in the car, drive an hour to a nearby
city, and explore something you haven’t before. Don’t
jail yourself in your house because of erroneous
notions of what it means to travel.
13. I wish I’d have laughed it off.
You take yourself far too seriously. Heck, we all do.
One of the major regrets people have in life is simply
taking life too seriously. Bad things are bound to
happen, sure. But they’re pretty much always not as
bad as we make them out to be in our head. And isn’t
life way more fun if we’re chuckling along with it?
14. I wish I’d left work at work (for only 40 hours
per week).
Humans are hard wired to work and provide for the
ones they love. However, this often comes at the
expense of our loved ones because we spend so much
stinking time wrapping things up at the office or
putting in a couple hours emailing on the weekends.
Here’s a newsflash: your job is going to still be there
and exist when you die, but it’ll be someone else in the
seat neglecting their family instead. Don’t let that
happen.
15. I wish I stayed in touch with friends.
It’s normal for people to fall out of touch, but often it’s
a result of a “they didn’t call me so they don’t miss me”
mentality. If you truly miss someone and are
wondering how they’re doing, chances are the other
party is feeling the same way. Be the first to call, write,
or visit. You’ll be glad you did.
16. I wish I was more aware of the real world
around me.
I don’t believe this is a huge concern for people
currently on their deathbeds, but for the millennial
generation this will be a huge regret. We’re constantly
plugged in everywhere we go. This encourages us to
unconsciously ignore the beauty that surrounds us
every day. Unplug and look up. You’ll be more satisfied
with what you find than whatever drama Shandra is
starting on Facebook.
17. I wish I had more confidence in myself.
Everyone is self conscious, especially those who
appear very cocky and sure of themselves. A big
mistake people make in life is not truly believing in
their own ability. It’s such a shame because it’s so
easy. Only you need to validate your worth.
18. I wish I trusted my intuition.
That little voice in the back of your head is there for a
reason. Sadly, for many of us that voice can be self
defeating and quite harsh about life. There are,
however, many other occasions where that voice is the
megaphone for the heart, telling you what you truly
desire and deeply want. Listen to it.
19. I wish I ran with a better crowd.
Choose to believe this or not, but you are a direct
result of the people you surround yourself with. If you
run with idiots, chances are high you will become one.
The beauty of life is that we have the conscious choice
on who we spend our time with and what we spend
our time doing. I can’t speak for you, but I seek people
who will always challenge, encourage, and push me
grow.
20. I wish I walked the walk.
Far too many people are good at vocalizing the life
they want, but are horrendous at putting a plan into
action to get there. It’s not enough to dream out loud,
or quietly in your head. You must absolutely need to
put yourself out there and leap into action.
We can all relate to the struggles and battles that life
brings, but that doesn’t mean we have to roll over and
take it. It’s tough, sure, but anything that’s worthwhile
is. It really comes down to a simple choice: struggle
for fulfillment now or wish you did in your final
moments alive.
Only you can decide.
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