Regardless of how invincible we feel dancing through life’s ups and downs, we must all eventually stare death in the eyes as we reflect on our lives. Life surely is complex, but if you really stop to think for a moment, it can be boiled down to two feelings you’ll most certainly be met with on your deathbed:
Victory or regret.
Thankfully, each day is an opportunity to get better. Each day is perfect to start taking a more rewarding path in your life and avoid the potentially destructive path of a wasted life.
Let us take a look at some of the most common regrets people have on their deathbeds.
1. I wish I worked harder for the things I wanted
Many people become so paralyzed by the thought of “not doing things the right way” or not fulfilling their dreams in time that they often fail to even get started on them. In reality, there simply is no shortcut to our dreams. There are always going to be twists and turns, so the worst possible thing we can do is be inactive while wondering what could have been if we had just been more active and persistent.
2. I wish I had given more of my time to my family
Even though working towards achieving our goals is crucially important, we must not let our drive for victory prevent us from spending time with our loved ones. Many people in their final moments of life wish they had carved more time for their friends and families. And this is perhaps the most painful and saddening regret of all.
3. I wish I had said what I think more often
Life is awfully short to be spent passively. We should always express ourselves and strive to protect who we truly are because pretending we are somebody else or failing to defend what we firmly believe in can leave us feeling terribly desolate indeed.
4. I wish I had allowed myself to be a happier person
True happiness is ultimately something we could consciously put an effort towards achieving. Oftentimes, our circumstances have almost nothing to do with our attitude towards life – we can have it all and still feel hollow inside, or have little and still feel incredibly fulfilled within.
What is your greatest regret so far? What goals will you set out to achieve and what do you want to change in your life before it comes to an end? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section and share this article with your friends to find out what they think.