The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying book by Australian nurse Bronnie Ware, who spent several years caring for terminal patients. She recorded their stories and highlighted the top 5 common regrets of the dying, offering timeless lessons for living. Originally published in 2012, the book continues to inspire readers to reflect on their choices. I encourage you to reflect on these regrets and avoid similar feelings in your own life. For additional inspiration, see our collection of Positive Quotes.
Top 5 Regrets of the Dying
Here is Bronnie Ware’s list of the top five regrets of the dying.
- Courage to Live the True Life
- The regret of not Working Hard
- Courage to Express Feelings
- Not having Friends
- The regret of not Being Happy
1. Courage to Live a Life True to Yourself
Bronnie Ware quotes the top regret as “I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
2. Not Working Hard
The second regret is the wish to not have worked so hard: “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”
3. Courage to Express Feelings
The third regret is the wish to have the courage to express feelings: “I wish I had the courage to express my feelings.”
4. Friends
Friends are a central part of life. Bronnie Ware notes, “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”
5. Being Happy
We often strive for happiness, but true happiness is found within. The fifth regret is “I wish I had let myself be happier.”
Notice, that none of these regrets revolve around “Money” or “Work.”
Don’t Let This Be With You!
For practical steps to align your life with your values, see our guide to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Check out the positive habits of highly effective people
Bronnie Ware Top 5 Regrets of the Dying Quotes
List of Positive Quotes by Bronnie Ware. For more inspiration, explore our Motivational Quotes collection.
- “There is a fine line between compassion and a victim mentality. Compassion through is a healing force and comes from a place of kindness towards yourself. Playing the victim is a toxic waste of time that not only repels other people but also robs the victim of ever knowing true happiness.” Bronnie Ware
- “There is always a gift in any challenge.” Bronnie Ware
- “Life doesn’t owe us anything. We only owe ourselves, to make the most of the life we are living, of the time we have left, and to live in gratitude.” Bronnie Ware
- “The same view you look at every day, the same life, can become something brand new by focusing on its gifts rather than the negative aspects. Perspective is your own choice and the best way to shift that perspective is through gratitude, by acknowledging and appreciating the positives.” Bronnie Ware
- “To be in any sort of relationship where you do not express yourself, simply to keep the peace, is a relationship ruled by one person and will never be balanced or healthy.” Bronnie Ware
- “Laughter is a very underrated tool for healing.” Bronnie Ware
- “There is nothing wrong with loving your work and wanting to apply yourself to it. But there is so much more to life. Balance is what is important, maintaining balance.” Bronnie Ware
- “No one owes us anything. We only owe ourselves to get off our backsides, count our blessings, and face our challenges. When you live from that perspective, the gifts pour forth.” Bronnie Ware
- “Surrender is not giving up, far from it. Surrender takes an enormous amount of courage. Often we are only capable of doing so when the pain of trying to control the outcome becomes too much to bear.” Bronnie Ware
- “They say though that we do more to avoid pain than we do to gain pleasure. So it is when the pain becomes too much that we finally find the courage to make changes.” Bronnie Ware
Review
The book The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying is an amazing case study. Motivational and encouraging information useful for all ages. It helps to analyze actual goals of life and make real decisions. For more life-affirming insights, explore our Motivational Quotes and Inspirational Quotes About Happiness collections.
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