What I am afraid to regret on my deathbed

This post is part of the Last Year to Live Blog, which is an experiment in living life to its fullest. I picture myself lying on my deathbed and reflecting on life. You can learn the full details of the experiment here. 

The Questions I ask on my Deathbed

• • Was it a life worth living?
  • Did I do what I was hoping to do, or achieve?
  • What am I regretting I have done, or what regrets I have for not doing?
  • Was it a life worth living?

My Answers

Absolutely. It was a ride for sure, with ups and downs and non-stop learning. With many moments where I was ready to let go, and then decided to stick around. Why would I have wanted to stick around if it was not worth living? Was it worth it
because of all the pleasurable moments I experienced? Yes, but far more than that.

It was worth living for the journey.

For all that I have learned, shared, loved and taught others. So many amazing little moments; some so simple, such as watching the water flicker on lake Atitlan, or sipping tea, or a good talk with a friend, and other much greater, such a love to a human or being a son. When reflecting back, I realize that any moment I was truly present, was a moment worth living. Those are the moments I truly remember best – not from talking about them, but from vividly experiencing. The more present we are, the more time slows down, and life becomes truly magical.

Living Fully Everyday

Set your intention: where will you pay more attention in life? How can you be more present with the little things? Eating, walking or sharing moments with loved ones. Did I do what I was hoping to do, or achieve? Absolutely, but it also doesn’t matter. I am on my deathbed, about to die, so who cares what I did in the past? What matters is how I feel right this
moment. However, since this is an experiment, it is truly a wakeup call. Luckily, I’ve asked myself this question often in life. When I felt that publishing a book was top priority, I left all I had in the SF bay area, set on the road to travel and get the book published. When I believed that a center for exploring the human potential, the mind, and beyond would
be one of the best gifts I could leave behind, I dove in head first.

The secret to getting things accomplished is not to wait for the right moment, but rather finding out how to make the present moment the right one.

Accomplishing Your Goals

The secret to getting things accomplished is not to wait for the right moment, but rather finding out how to make the present moment the right one. It is normally not the right moment to do most big, meaningful things in life, but as Nike said: Just do it! The universe does not do it for you, but if you are authentic and have good intentions, the universe will help you flow more smoothly, and support you in the creation. Almost all of our dreams require effort, discipline and sometimes self-compromise. But as they become alive, it is the joy of transformation, of creation, of manifestation that helps us
overcome the hurdles. Even if our dream does not manifest, trying it allows us to know and feel that we gave it a go, and this is more important than the result. Have you ever felt totally fine with not doing something – such as not playing the piano anymore? If you really gave it a try, and now you’ve decided to let it go, then though you may not be in big concert halls, you will know you tried. Same goes for a relationship or any endeavor.

It is the joy of transformation, of creation, of manifestation that helps us overcome the hurdles. Even if our dream does not manifest, trying it allows us to know and feel that we gave it a go, and this is more important than the result.

Doing versus Non-doing

What do I regret doing, or what regrets I have of not doing? I rarely regret what I have done, so I simply do. Worst case, it was the best decision for the time, that now seems to have shifted, and so I can shift my decision to what seems best for the present moment. If we doubt too much whether we should do something or not, maybe it is not something that truly needs to be done. We need to see if doubt itself is hindering us from doing, or if something really isn’t the right thing to do. Gut feeling, or instincts are good indicators of the right answer. Mostly people with no regrets would have done something, or tried it at least.

How to Live without Regret

Ask yourself, what would you love to do before you are on your deathbed? Even if you cannot accomplish it
anytime soon, decide just to take the first step. Move in baby steps and you will find that your dream will begin to
grow, and life will find a way to support you in making it breathe.Maybe bookmark this page, and revisit it every 3-6 months. Are you living a life worth living? Will you be at peace if you have to leave your body tomorrow? May you know many years of joy and meaningful living!

Share the Sentiment

What is your process of manifestation?

Leave a comment and let us know: what dreams do you have, and how you are finding ways to make them
happen? Can you move from regrets into current action? Share this article with a friend who helps you realize your dreams!

For more reading on philosophy and yogic thought, read the Doron Yoga Manual.