Prioritize living a life true to yourself, not one dictated by others’ expectations, as this foundational choice naturally leads to better work-life balance, maintaining friendships, and choosing happiness, thereby preventing other common regrets.
Foster strong family relationships with good communication, embrace humor to laugh at mistakes and life’s winding road without taking things too seriously, and develop a belief in something greater than yourself (religious or spiritual) to live a life with fewer regrets.
Face the reality of your own mortality and recognize the sacredness of your time, as this awareness provides the courage to trust your path and truly live life.
Actively focus on and prioritize the quality of your relationships, as they are consistently identified as a key factor for health and happiness in life.
Avoid making work your entire identity and life, as patients on their deathbeds regretted having nothing left when work was gone and not spending time with family or pursuing personal dreams.
Intentionally schedule ‘unplanned time’ with no agenda, even if it’s just two or three hours a week, because this ‘space is medicine’ approach allows for greater efficiency and clarity when returning to work.
Identify aspects of life you crave (e.g., family time, hobbies) and commit to regularly carving out time for them, even if it’s only a few hours a week or fortnight, as this commitment fosters a better life and encourages life to support your choices.
If your current job demands excessively long hours (e.g., 60 hours/week) to the point of threatening your well-being, consider that you might be in the wrong job and actively seek employment that allows for a healthier work-life balance (e.g., 35-40 hours/week).
Develop a belief in something greater than yourself, whether through religion, spirituality, or nature, as this provides a sense of trust and contentment with how you’ve lived your life.
Cultivate a humorous approach to life, not taking things too seriously, as this mindset helps reduce self-judgment and allows for a more regret-free existence.
Understand courage as the act of breaking through resistance and fear, allowing you to proceed with actions even when scared, effectively dismantling the internal walls that prevent you from doing things.
Confront and overcome the fear of your own potential, including fears of what others think, failing, or wasting time, as these are common barriers to acting with courage and pursuing your dreams.
Prevent mistakes from becoming lifelong regrets by practicing self-compassion for your younger self and avoiding harsh self-judgment, recognizing that mistakes are a natural part of human imperfection and learning.
Accept that making mistakes is an inherent part of being human and how we learn and grow, rather than viewing them as failures.
Cultivate the belief that you will be okay if you choose to live life on your own terms, rather than conforming to external expectations.
Recognize that important life messages often ’land’ when you are ready to receive them, so remain open to hearing advice in new ways, even if you’ve heard similar things before, as timing and articulation can make a difference.