How
to Live a Life with No RegretsHilary BarnettWhat really matters? This question can seem
really complicated when you are immersed in the day-to-day responsibilities of
life. But when you are faced with the
reality of the end of life, things can become quite clear.
In her article palliative care nurse Bronnie
Ware reveals the things that were at the forefront of her patients’ minds as
they were preparing for their last moments on earth. Here are the top five
regrets that her patients mentioned, with some thoughts on what we can do right
now to ensure that these are regrets that we do not share when we come to that
point in our lives.
1.
пустоI wish I stayed in touch with my friends. This one stings a little, doesn’t it? So often
we get caught up in pleasing
everyone around us, and we forget what makes us feel truly alive. It takes
simplifying our lives to see who we really want to be. It’s difficult to see
through the clutter, but once you get there, you must take that first brave
step and be true to who you are.
2. пусто
We strive, we climb, we burn the candle at both
ends, and being productive and recognized gives us a sense of worth, but in the end, it’s our relationships with those
we love that matter most. How can you simplify your schedule to make time for the most important people
in your life?
3. пусто I wish I didn’t work so hard.
When we are bogged down with life, our emotions
are the first things we neglect. We don’t pay
attention to what they are telling us, and we are reluctant to express them to others for fear of rejection or shame.
Quieting our minds and our environments can create space for our emotions to
truly surface, giving us an opportunity to understand them, and express them in
ways that are helpful and healing.
4. пусто I wish I let myself be happier.
It can be so easy to unwittingly neglect the
relationships in our lives at the sake
of our busyness. Reaching out to
friends takes an extra effort, one that may seem like just one more thing on
the to-do list in a day filled with responsibilities. But when we make this a
priority, it has the opposite effect- it fills us up instead of draining us.
Who are those people that you truly care
about, that you haven’t spoken to in some time? Make an effort to reach
out, beyond their most recent Facebook update. See how they are doing, and
spend some time in conversation if you can.
5. пустоI wish I had the courage to express my feelings.
One of the most difficult things to learn is
that happiness is a choice. Circumstances
are very rarely going to be perfect enough to allow us to be happy at all
times, but we can choose joy in the moment, and be grateful for the beautiful
and meaningful things in our lives. So often we can get caught up in the
seriousness of life, and forget how much happiness can come from simply letting
loose and being silly once in a while.
Our inner child wants to be heard, we just have to listen and be comfortable
enough to let our guard down.
6. пустоDesign a simple life
Simplifying
your life is
about focusing on what really
matters. When you choose what is important to you and focus on it, you gain a
sense of clarity and trust that allows you to live with less regrets.
How can you begin today to simplify? It doesn’t
have to be a major undertaking — it
can be one small act. It can be a moment of quiet where you slow down long
enough to hear what your heart is telling you. It can be a choice to make more
time, today, for someone you love. It can be a decision to remove something from your life that is no longer bringing you
joy. It can be one word: a “yes”, or a “no.”
I hope you are encouraged to live to the fullest. We all have a finite amount of
time, but what we do with it is the most powerful choice we will ever make.