Living Life to Its Fullest Part 5

December 17, 2024

​​​​​​​Living Life to Its Fullest Part 5

We are in charge of whether we live our lives to the fullest. So, if we are frustrated with our lives as they are, we can do things to reach our fullness. But first, we must be aware of what our soul tells us it needs to be fulfilled. This means listening to our soul. All during our lives, our soul speaks to us, but because of distractions and misplaced priorities, we can ignore its requests. But during a shock point or anytime we become aware of our mortality, it is even more vital that we listen to our soul.

Bronnie Ware is an Australian author and songwriter who’s best known for writing about the top deathbed regrets she heard during her time as a palliative care provider. Her book is The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. 

According to Ware, the five most common regrets people have near the end of their life are:

• "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."

• "I wish I hadn't worked so hard."

• "I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings."

• "I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends."

• "I wish that I had let myself be happier.”

She says that the first regret is the most frequent. She goes on to say, “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.” In a blog, she wrote, “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.”

In consciousness, we are aware of our limited time and we try to listen to our soul. These two qualities make all the difference in helping us live our life to its fullest.

Spiritual practice: Of the five top regrets, is there a particular one that applies to you? Make and execute a plan to make sure that you will not let this regret follow you for the rest of your life. 

Self-inquiry: What would cause you to ignore your soul’s deepest longings?  

Dear God,

I pray to not have regrets. Lead me in the paths of your righteousness. Amen