5 Most Common Regrets of the Dying

My friend Beth is a hospice chaplain. She has the honor of being with people and their families at the end of life. The other day she posted on her Facebook page “The Five Most Common Regrets People Express When They Are Dying.”

I’ve seen lists like these before; and they always make me pause because living #regretfree is big for me. I want to make the most of this #oneshot I’ve been given, and I hope to inspire others rise to a bigger, bolder, happier life, as well.

This time, I was particularly struck by this list of regrets because (1) they came from someone I know and deeply respect and (2) they all burn with the truth of why I started LIONGIRL.

#1 Wishing they had been more true to themselves

LIONGIRL stands for, above all, reclamation of personal power. Knowing who you are and what you’re about, believing and trusting yourself, and boldly expressing YOU in all areas of your life.

We learn at an early age that we need to fit in, align with the majority, etc. to stay alive. Rejection from our tribe, getting thrown out of the village is certain death! We begin to look for ways to fit in, slowly forgetting OUR WAY. Dress this way. Think that way. Look this way. Vote that way. Live your life this way. It’s OK for awhile. Then, it starts to feel bad, things stop working, and you begin to wake up out of the trance and wonder how the heck you got here.

The journey toward a truer version of yourself is one of the most rewarding adventures – certainly a quest I’ve been on for awhile. I used to think that shedding the layers of what’s NOT YOU takes time, patience, and that it has to be painful and serious.

But, LIONGIRL is showing me it can happen like lightning – and it can be fun! Why not? LIONGIRL knows one of the surest ways to access the truth of who you are is through the wisdom of your body. Through physical fitness, especially high energy, heart pounding, sweat pouring activities, we can more easily bypass our mental blocks, trick our “habit to conform,” and literally come alive inside of ourselves. So the next time you feel confused or uncertain about a choice or feel swept up in the river of status quo, get in your body and get in your power. Your body is where your truth resides. Put on your workout clothes, crank up the music, and see what it has to say.

#2 Wishing they hadn’t worked so hard

Lions sleep, like, 20 hours a day. We think of them as all noble and mighty and fierce (YES AND…) let’s face it, they PLAY and LOUNGE and SLEEP a lot. Such good reminders for those of us who think life has to be hard and success requires maximum push all the time.

#3 Wishing they had been brave enough to say how they really felt

Roar! Feel it, embody it, express it. LIONGIRL aims to inspire girls and women to be bold in their self-expression. Your greatest power comes from knowing who you are, owning it fully, and sharing it bravely with the world.

#4 Wishing they had kept in touch more with people they cared about

Our pride. Our people. Connection. Life is better together, with people we love and who love us back. LIONGIRL cares deeply about the community we are creating and the connections we make with each other.

#5 Wishing they had let themselves be happier

Why does suffering, fear, negativity, and misery have to be the default? Why do we deny ourselves happiness? LIONGIRL believes we are all POWERFUL creators and that we all have the ability to create happiness for ourselves – regardless of the wacky world around us. LIONGIRL believes in personal responsibility – that is, taking responsibility for your own life and happiness. Our birthright is JOY. Let’s reclaim it, like the royal souls we were born to be.