Category Archives: Mindset

It Takes Courage

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“You can’t swim for new horizons until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

It takes courage to leave your comfort zone, it takes courage to go after your dreams, it takes courage to live a life worth remembering. It’s very easy to die, it takes courage to live.

It takes courage to grow and become all you are destined to be, it takes courage to embrace the possibilities of your potential, it takes courage to go after what you desire. It’s very easy to stop, it takes courage to keep climbing until you reach the top.

It takes courage to look at your failures and still choose to try again, it takes courage to meet with fierce opposition and still choose to fight, it takes courage to endure pain, and choose to be strong. It’s very easy to fall, it takes courage to stand.

If you have tried and met with defeat, If you have planned and watched your plans fail, If you have given your all and again you lost,

Remember that the great men and women who have lived before us were all products of courage.

Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid, it means you don’t let your fear stop you.

You can’t swim for new horizons until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. You can’t become all you are destined to be until you have the courage to leave where you used to be.

The great things of life that you so much desire is on the other side of fear, you need courage to go after and possess them.

Don’t be numbered among the fearful ones who neither achieve greatness nor experience defeat, who neither enjoy the thrills of success nor learn the lessons of failure.

Go out into the world, it’s time to start living. Face your fears, fight your battles, it’s time to conquer, that’s what you are made for, that’s why you are here.

Source:  MordyQuotes.

The way you speak to yourself matters. Negative self-talk can be damaging to your sense of self and overall happiness. And contrary to popular belief, it will not motivate you to do or be “better”. Here are several tips for changing your self-talk:

– Listen to yourself and the commentary that runs in your head all day. Get clear on what it is you say to yourself and how it makes you feel.

– Try speaking to yourself in the third person, or using your name to get some emotional distance from your thoughts. This may help you take your thoughts less personally.

– Question what you are saying to yourself: “Is this true?”,“Is this thought helping me or harming me?”, “Am I over-reacting, or being overly harsh?”

– Be kind. If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself. Practice being encouraging with yourself, as you would your best friend.

How to Build Wealth When You Don’t Come from Money

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by Anne-Lyse Wealth
March 17, 2022

Summary. The first step to building wealth involves your mindset and behaviors. To build wealth, you must first address the systemic and mental barriers faced by many Americans who grew up in families and environments without access to wealth. Changing your mindset and financial behaviors, or building a mindset and creating good financial habits conducive to building wealth, are the real and necessary first steps.

  • To start, let go of limiting beliefs. When you grow up lacking money or the resources to make enough of it, thinking there is a shortage of resources, or watching people around you live paycheck to paycheck, you may be more likely to believe that wealth is reserved for a select few.
  • To overcome this mindset and believe you deserve abundance, practice thought work daily. This is the act of consciously paying attention to your thoughts and then choosing to entertain different ones instead.
  • Next, accept that money can do as much good as evil. Don’t let fear stop you from pursuing wealth or the kind of paycheck you need to support you and what you want to accomplish in your lifetime.
  • Finally, understand that a high income is not enough. Building wealth requires intentionally managing your expenses — and, yes, investing. Investing is for everyone, and it can help even the playing field.

Do you want to be wealthy and financially free? Most people probably do — but it is not a leisurely pursuit. The widening wealth gap between the rich and the poor makes it seem impossible for most.

According to a recent Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report, millionaires represent less than 9% of the United States population. Even so, the same report notes that in 2020 alone, there were 1.7 new millionaires in the U.S. According to business theorist Thomas J. Stanley, who studied more than 1,000 millionaires for his book The Millionaire Next Door, 80% of U.S. millionaires are first-generation “rich.” That means they didn’t inherit their wealth but built it over time.

These statistics can make you wonder what it takes for a person to overcome humble beginnings and achieve the “American Dream.” What does it take to become a millionaire when you don’t come from wealth?

The first step to attaining wealth — at least for Americans not born into it — is much more personal than mimicking the habits of “The Millionaire Next Door” or investing wisely. Such approaches often fail to address the systemic and mental barriers faced by many Americans who grew up without access to wealth.

Changing your mindset, or building a mindset conducive to wealth, is the first step to attaining it. This means believing that wealth is accessible and you are worthy of wealth. Without that mental drive, the other strategies are moot.

To achieve this mindset, you must let go of limiting beliefs. For most people, developing an abundance mindset, or believing there are enough resources and opportunities for everyone, requires an intentional effort. This is even more true for those who grew up with limited resources and less access to wealth.

According to a study conducted at Purdue University, many of your financial habits are formed by age seven. That means your feelings about money are primarily influenced by how people around you talk about or behave around it.

When you grow up lacking money or the resources to make enough of it, thinking that there is a shortage of resources, or watching people around you live paycheck to paycheck — you may be more likely to believe that wealth is reserved for a select few. I suppose you might be wrong.

It takes more work to expect abundance when you don’t see it around you.

“Every day, many negative thoughts race through our minds. If we don’t learn to filter those thoughts, we start believing them. Eventually, they can lead to a scarcity mindset, which leads to scarcity actions or broke-ass decisions,” said Rachel Rodgers.

Rodgers doesn’t believe in ignoring our negative experiences. Instead, she suggests using them as fuel to help us build a better future. “For example, changing your thoughts is not going to make racism or violence against Black people end,” Rodgers said. “Racism presents many challenges and obstacles to our ability to build wealth. That said, we can work with our thoughts to choose a more effective and empowering response to the racism we experience. Our anger can be a powerful fuel for action.”

Rodgers believes in rewiring our brains to expect abundance and emphasizes the importance of making million-dollar decisions before becoming a millionaire. In Rodgers ‘ words, this involves doing some thought work, “the act of consciously paying attention to your thoughts and then choosing to entertain different ones instead.” She recommends practicing this daily.

“Even though I run an eight-figure business, I do thought work daily,” she said. “When you think more positively about yourself, your work, your intelligence, and your financial decisions, you will start taking more positive actions. Eventually, after some practice, it can improve your life.”

According to Rodgers, million-dollar decisions create time, energy, and options. When you apply for a job, receive an offer, and make a counteroffer because you know your worth, you make a million-dollar decision. When you are proactive about asking for a raise, researching industry rates, and making a case to your boss, you are making a million-dollar decision instead of growing overwhelmed and not acting at all.

Ultimately, your mindset can lead to significant missed opportunities if you don’t change it and believe you deserve abundance no matter where you start.

Accept that money is not always evil.
We’ve all heard the saying that “money is the root of all evil.” Many people — especially those with negative formative experiences with it — will stop desiring wealth because of that belief. But understanding that you can use your money to do good in the world can be a game-changer.

Realized there were other ways to give back to your community. Use money to help others access education and, in turn, have a greater chance of accessing financial freedom.

Similarly, Rodgers initially went to law school because she wanted to work for a nonprofit, advocating for marginalized communities. “The pressures from family members and my student loan debt eventually pushed me to give up on my dream for the sake of making money. I flew around the country, interviewing for jobs I didn’t want. I was offered an associate attorney position at a firm representing Big Oil companies.”

Ultimately, Rodgers’ belief that she could find a more outstanding balance between earning and giving drove her to turn down the position and launch her own business. She credits her decision to her Aunt Barbara, who paid the balance on her college tuition, and the parents of a girl she used to babysit for making her realize that all rich people were not evil. “Now, with my business, I help thousands of women and other members of underrepresented communities to increase their earning potential — and I make millions doing it.”

The big takeaway? Money can do as much good as it can evil. Don’t let fear stop you from pursuing wealth or the kind of paycheck you need to support you and what you want to accomplish in your lifetime. That would be akin to giving up before you even begin.

Understand that more than a high income is needed.
Another mind trap it’s easy to fall into is believing that a high salary will eventually lead to accumulated wealth. Realistically, it probably won’t. Building wealth requires intentionally managing your expenses — and, yes, investing.

With inflation, or the increase in goods and service prices over time, money loses value the longer it sits still. Building wealth, then, requires investing, whether it’s in the stock market, real estate, a business, or another wealth-building avenue.

Business manager Michelle Richburg shared that most of her clients, many of whom are first-generation millionaires, have had to learn the hard way that being intentional about budgeting and investing is essential to build wealth.

Schadeck similarly believes that investing provides an opportunity to level the playing field. “Most people who don’t come from a wealthy or financially literate family fall victim to this. However, the birth of online investment brokerage firms democratized the industry. Investing is for everyone.”

To get past this mental roadblock, Schadeck encourages her clients to imagine life if they didn’t have to work for money. She tells them to hold onto that vision and mirror it in their actions.

What does that look like?

Schadeck tells her clients to start investing as soon as they can afford it — even if that means putting forth a small dollar amount. “A mindset shift happens when you build financial discipline as an investor. You could start with $45,” she said, “and that small investment will build up over time with compound interest. Starting small is the secret, and being consistent is the key.”

Be willing to create your path.

There’s no one-size-fits-all for wealth building. No matter the path, what will make a difference is your consistency.

“You shouldn’t work yourself up trying to attain some made-up standard for how you create your wealth. My plan for building wealth was through entrepreneurship, and I still recommend it as the most sustainable and fastest path forward. However, that’s not what works for everyone. I know folks who’ve built wealth by investing in stocks, through real estate, or by saving,” Rodgers told me.

Whether you aspire to become a millionaire or not, no matter what path you choose, you can benefit from rethinking your relationship with money to increase your chances of making more. Money doesn’t mean happiness, but wealth gives access to options and, potentially, a better quality of life.

Changing your mindset and applying these tips may not make you a millionaire, but adopting them will benefit your wealth-building journey.

Source:
Anne-Lyse Wealth is a writer, personal finance educator, and certified public accountant. She is the founder of Dreamoflegacy.com, a platform

  1. https://hbr.org/2022/03/how-to-build-wealth-when-you-dont-come-from-money

Blogger’s Note: The opinions expressed here are for general informational purposes only. Doing your research and analysis before making any financial decisions is essential. We recommend speaking to an independent advisor if you are unsure how to proceed.

Visualization is a Wonderful Tool

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“To accomplish great things, we must first dream, then visualize, then plan… believe… act!” ~ Alfred A. Montapert

Visualization is an excellent tool to achieve success in life.

Visualization is seeing your future where your goal has been accomplished. Your success or failure depends solely on your mindset. Build your mindset with a positive attitude and approach by visualizing success.

It is a well-admitted fact that success occurs mentally first and then in reality. And it is rightly said that a battle is won twice — first in the mind and second in reality. That means you must have a mental script rather than the actual script. You can become what you want to become if you visualize yourself effectively.

Your mind churns out thoughts constantly, whether you like it or not. The internal chatter slowly disappears when you visualize, and the inner calm gradually surfaces. It clears the clutter from your mind and provides clarity to your thoughts. Attaining such a state, you can control your mind and life.

Research shows that the people who practice visualization have a higher probability of building their habits and achieving greater success. Visualization helps you “rewire” your connections and change your habits. It reorients your conscious and subconscious thought processes and eliminates bad habits.

 Visualization is the first step to accomplishing your goals. 

Visualization is a simple yet powerful tool to achieve your desired outcomes. According to Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D., the Father of “Soft Leadership” and the Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India, here is a blueprint to visualize effectively.:

  1. Sit in a quiet place, take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, and imagine the environment. If you want to write a bestselling book, start imagining that you are writing the bestselling book. 
  2. Set aside a few minutes a day. The ideal time is when you first wake up, after meditation or prayer, and before bed. What would you do? Put yourself in the chair you want to occupy someday, in the office of your dreams, doing what you excel at. 
  3. Use your five senses to make the power of visualization explosive. Combine the elements of sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch to visualize achieving optimum outcomes. What kind of lifestyle would you like to have? Think of the house you would like to wake up to, the things you would like to see around, and the ambiance that must define you personally and professionally. When you mentally live in that world, your mind will push you to achieve that world in real life.
  4. Emphasize means and processes, not ends. Once you have seen your dream world, try to see the path that takes you there and identify the milestones. You’ll need to create a blueprint mentally and go step-by-step to solidify your means. You should develop the attitude first; the rest will follow. Focus on only a few goals at a time. The human mind is practical when focusing on one activity at a time. After acquiring one habit effectively, you can visualize acquiring another. In this way, you will be able to achieve your objectives quickly.  
  5. Retain that blueprint in a written format. Be clear about what you want. Revisit and review your goals and plans regularly. Use concrete words.  Use visuals to retain for a longer time and visualize effectively. As Robert Collier remarked, “Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint, and begin to build.”

The bottom line is that if you understand the power of visualization and the tools and techniques to visualize, you can build a positive attitude and condition your mind constructively to accomplish your goals and objectives.

“First, have a definite, clear, practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends: wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.” ―Aristotle

Arnold Schwarzenegger once remarked, “The mind is so incredible. Before I won my first Mr. Universe title, I walked around the tournament as if I owned it. I had won it so many times in my mind; the title was already mine. Then, when I moved on to the movies, I used the same technique. I visualized daily being a successful actor and earning big money.”

References:

  1.  M.S. Rao, How to Visualize More Effectively for Greater Success, Success Magazine, June 9, 2023,  https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/how-to-visualize-more-effectively-for-greater-success/

Lessons from the book: From Failure to Success: Everyday Habits and Exercises to Build Mental Resilience and Turn Failures Into Successes

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Top 10 Lessons from the book: From Failure to Success: Everyday Habits and Exercises to Build Mental Resilience and Turn Failures Into successes By Martin Meadows

1. If you face a difficult problem and you tell yourself, “I don’t know how to deal with it,” you’ll think of reasons why you can’t do it — and not potential solutions. Your brain acts on your instructions, and it’s the words you use that steer your thinking process. If instead you tell yourself, “Okay, let’s find a way to figure it out,” you’ll think of potential solutions and probably solve the problem. Same problem, different words, different outcome. As powerful as our brains are, words can fool them — and you can use this phenomenon to your benefit.

2. Dwelling on your failure reinforces it and makes you less effective at dealing with future failures. Turning the failure into a lesson will help you to reinforce a positive coping mechanism.

3. The next time you fail, resist the temptation to let anger, frustration, discouragement or self-guilt make you give up. Give yourself time to process the negative emotions, and then make a list of the lessons you’ve learned from not reaching your desired outcome. This will help you develop a positive mechanism for coping with failure. When you transform a failure into a list of lessons, you’ll empower yourself by thinking in terms of possible ideas for improvement instead of poisoning yourself with negativity.

4. Whenever you find yourself angry at a situation you can’t change, remind yourself that it’s not up to you. Accepting that things are beyond your control will give you a sense of peace and enable you to move on. Peace of mind comes from focusing on what you can control instead of wasting your energy on things you can’t change. the only things you can always control are your own thoughts and subsequent beliefs, attitudes, and actions.

5. If you repeatedly fail with the same goal, it’s possible you set unrealistic expectations and are stuck in the false hope loop. To avoid failing due to unrealistic expectations, make sure to carefully research the feasibility of your goals. Does an average entrepreneur build a six-figure business in six months?

6. If you’ve already failed a couple of times and want to try again, consider completely changing your approach, rather than trying the same approach again and expecting different results. Perhaps the approach you’ve taken isn’t founded on healthy principles or doesn’t work in your unique situation. When you close your mind to alternative approaches, you can get stuck in the failure loop forever.

7. When setting a new goal and deadline, remind yourself that ultimately even if you don’t achieve something by your self-imposed deadline, you’re still farther ahead.

8. Sacrifice is necessary. Sacrificing less-important goals will give you more power to work on the most crucial objectives. Prioritize big life improvements like changing your diet, getting a better job, starting a business, or finding a life partner, over less significant objectives.

9. Embrace boredom. It’s exciting to set new goals or follow new strategies, but if you prioritize excitement over effectiveness, you’ll only lose focus and possibly fail. If something works, stick to it.

10. Practice defensive pessimism by imagining the worst and preparing for it. The next time you find yourself preparing for a situation that produces anxiety, come up with a list of everything that can go wrong. Then, address every item one by one by coming up with a list of possible solutions and implement them to reduce the risk of the setback happening.

11. If you don’t believe you deserve success, you’ll sabotage your efforts. If you limit your growth because you’re afraid of hurting others, remind yourself that becoming a better person gives you more resources to help them.

12. If you don’t recognize your strengths, make a list of your motivations, strengths, relationships, and other assets that can help you achieve your goal. Then think of past situations that you solved, thanks to these resources.

13. The best way to build long-term resolve is to develop a long-term passion that consistently motivates you to persist in spite of challenges. When performed over the long term, it will build up your reserves of mental strength while you’re enjoying yourself.

14. You must believe that if you persist at it, you will get better at it. You won’t stick to anything in the long term if you doubt your abilities to improve.

15. Find a way to introduce a big change in your life with little commitment and investment on your part. If it works well, make it a permanent change.

 

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Dog Sitting on a Nail Story

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There is a story of an old man and his dog sitting on the porch. It’s hot outside. The old man is sipping on his lemonade and the dog is sitting next to him moaning in pain.

The neighbor across the street hears the dog moaning for several minutes, and his curiosity gets the best of him, so he approaches the old man.

He asks the old man, “why is your dog moaning?” The old man responds by saying: “the dog is sitting on a nail.”

Perplexed, the neighbor asks, “why doesn’t the dog just get up and move to another spot on the porch?”

The old man takes another sip of lemonade, smiles, thinks about his response and says, “it doesn’t hurt bad enough!”

Even though the dog was moaning in pain, the pain wasn’t “bad enough” for the dog to do something about it. Instead, all he did was moan.

All the dog really needed to do was stand up, move several inches, and find a comfortable spot on the porch to lay down.

People Can Be Like the Dog

This story describes human nature. People are comfortable, even if they are unhappy and are experiencing pain. We all have a comfort zone. Your comfort zone dictates your daily habits, thoughts, actions and success in life.

Additionally, people fear change. People also fear failure. Many people are unhappy with their lot in life, but they will not step out of their comfort zone and change. Why? Because the pain doesn’t hurt bad enough for them to make a change in their life. They believe the pain of changing is greater than the pain of staying the same.

It’s not until people get sick and tired of being sick and tired, and make the decision they will do whatever it takes, that they will change and do what they need to do.

Ten Things You Should Say To Yourself!

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In the intricate landscape of your minds, the thoughts you harbor can mold your reality. Your self-talk, the inner dialogue you have with yourself, can be either a force of empowerment or a source of self-sabotage.

Here are ten mantras that can help you navigate the depths of your consciousness and cultivate a more positive and fulfilling life.

1. “I am capable and deserving of success and happiness.” Banish the notion of inadequacy. Remind yourself that you possess the skills and potential to achieve greatness and that happiness is not an elusive dream but a state of mind you can cultivate.

2. “I have the ability to learn and grow.” Replace self-doubt with the belief in your adaptability and resilience. Embrace challenges as stepping stones towards personal development and self-improvement.

3. “Failure is an opportunity for growth.” Reframe your perspective on failure. Embrace mistakes as valuable lessons that pave the way for future success. Every stumble is a chance to rise stronger than before.

4. “I am worthy of love and affection.” Dismiss thoughts of unworthiness and embrace self-love. Recognize that you deserve care and affection, just as much as anyone else.

5. “Happiness is within my reach.” Dispel thoughts of eternal dissatisfaction. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Seek joy in the little things and acknowledge that your happiness is within your control.

6. “My journey is unique, and I celebrate my progress.” Avoid the pitfalls of comparison. Each path is distinct, and every step you take is a milestone on your individual journey. Celebrate your growth and accomplishments, however big or small.

7. “I embrace my imperfections and focus on growth.” Release the burden of perfectionism. Embrace your flaws and acknowledge that they are a part of what makes you beautifully human. Channel your energy towards self-improvement instead.

8. “Change is natural, and I am adaptable.” Embrace the ebb and flow of life. Recognize that change is inevitable and that you have the power to adapt and evolve through life’s transitions.

9. “I hold inherent value and make a difference.”Reclaim your sense of importance. Your thoughts, actions, and presence have an impact on the world around you. Embrace your uniqueness and cherish the difference you make.

10. “I believe in my ability to achieve my goals.”Replace doubt with determination. Break your goals into manageable steps and trust in your capacity to persevere. Success is attainable with a steadfast belief in yourself.

Conclusion

As you navigate the labyrinth of your thoughts, remember that you hold the key to your own empowerment.

The words you say to yourself shape your reality, influence your actions, and ultimately define your destiny.

Embrace the power of positive self-talk, for it can be a guiding light on your journey to a more fulfilling and contented life. Ignite the fire within you to conquer challenges, embrace growth, and create a future brimming with possibility and purpose.

References:

  1. https://youthvillage.co.ke/10-things-you-should-never-say-to-yourself/#

Your Mindset and Clarity of Vision

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A young couple moved into a new house. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the washing outside.

“That laundry is not very clean; she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better soap powder. Her husband looked on, remaining silent.

Every time her neighbor hung her washing out to dry, the young woman made the same comments.

A month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, “Look, she’s finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?”

The husband replied, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

And so it is with life… What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.

So don’t be too quick to judge others, especially if your perspective of life is clouded by anger, jealousy, negativity or unfulfilled desires.

“Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.”

Mindset Matters and Mindset is Everything

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Everything you experience in your life from one moment to another is an outcome of your mindset, it’s all about what you think and how you think.

Your mindset affects everything, everything that you do, everything that you feel, and everything that you perceive.

When you want to change something in your life, don’t look far, simply look at your mindset, because when that changes, everything changes.

Be mindful of your mindset.

“Everything that you experience in your life from one moment to another is an outcome of your mindset; it’s all about what you think and how you think. Your mindset affects everything, everything that you do, everything that you feel, and everything that you perceive.  When you want to change something in your life, don’t look far, simply look at your mindset, because when that changes, everything changes.  Be mindful of your mindset.”

Life is a Journey

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Life is a journey filled with thousands of steps to be taken. Each step matters, they sum up the entirety of your existence.

You must be intentional about taking these steps each day. The size of the step you take doesn’t matter, what matters is that you take that step.

Don’t be too focused on what is to come that you neglect what you need to do now.

Don’t be discouraged by how far you still have to go, be encouraged by how far you’ve come and inspired by what’s ahead.

Sometimes your progress may not be glaring, but be rest assured that for each step you take, something incredible is happening. The result may take time to be seen, but eventually you will see it.

A day will come when you will look back and see how those little steps you took have become a mighty span of great deeds.

Today requires you take a step, no matter little, remember it counts.

Source:  Mordecai Orimiladeye, Mordy Quotes

Top Five Regrets of the Dying

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Bronnie Ware, an Australian palliative care nurse, recorded patients’ dying epiphanies and put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.

Ware wrote of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how you might learn from her patients’ wisdom. “When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently,” she says, “common themes surfaced again and again.”

Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Bonnie Ware:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

“This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.”

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

“This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.”

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

“Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.”

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

“This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.”

References:

  1. Susie Steiner, Top five regrets of the dying, The Guardian, February 1, 2012.  https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying