The #1 Regret People Have on Their Deathbed

There’s a famous study from Australian palliative nurse Bronnie Ware, who spent years caring for people in their final days.

She asked them about their biggest regrets.

The number one answer?

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

It wasn’t about money.

It wasn’t about work.

It wasn’t about status or stuff.

It was about time.

Time they didn’t spend with family.

Trips they never booked.

Dreams they shelved because “now’s not the right time.”

It’s about missed opportunities, unlived dreams and the things people didn’t do.

I read this years ago and it stuck.

Because every week I sit with people who say things like:

“I’ll travel when I retire.”

“I’ll spend more time with my kids once work slows down.”

“I’ll invest in myself later, when life feels less hectic.”

The conflict is that life never magically slows down.

And if you wait for the “perfect time,” it usually never comes.

Here’s the truth: if you’re not deliberate about your goals, life has a way of deciding for you.

And usually, that means drifting into expectations that don’t feel like your own.

So how do you avoid that regret?

1. Get clear on your goals. Not what others want for you, but what you want (not just money, but experiences and relationships). Write them down. Start small. Build from there.

2. Put structure around it. Create a plan, automate savings, allocate time off, book the trip, start the course. Consistency beats motivation.

3. Review regularly. Goals aren’t set in stone, they’re a compass. Adjust them as life changes, but keep moving towards what excites you.

One quote I always come back to is:

“Someday is not a day of the week.”

Money is just a tool and it’s fuel to help you live the life you want.

But if you don’t decide what that life looks like, you risk drifting into the very regret so many people wish they could undo.

So here’s my challenge:

Take 5 minutes today and write down one thing you’ve been putting off.

Then ask yourself, “What would it take to make this happen in the next 12 months?”

Because if you don’t start, the cost isn’t just money, it’s time.

And lost time is what leads to the very regret you’re trying to avoid.

Time is the one investment you can’t earn back, ever.

Talk soon,

P.S. If you want help mapping your money to your life goals, contact us with “Life Plan” and we’ll show you how to make it real without waiting until it’s too late.

7Wealth Pty Ltd ABN 44609210246 is a Corporate Authorised Representatives and is authorised through Cobalt Advisers Pty Ltd ABN 64 628 654 099 who is an Australian Financial Services Licensee 512550. 7Wealth Pty Ltd is a Credit Representative of Australian Finance Group Ltd ABN 11 066 385 822 (AFG) Australian Credit Licence 389087.  
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