Design Your Life with Intentionality: A fulfilling life involves intentionality in its design, rather than simply "going with the flow" or following societal dictates. This means engaging in self-reflection (e.g., journaling, studying philosophy) to define what a good life means and align actions with personal values and goals. The video promotes resources like journaling prompts and a three-part series on setting intentional goals as ways to avoid regret.
Live True to Yourself, Not Others' Expectations: A life without regret involves having the courage to live authentically, rather than conforming to the expectations of parents, society, or peers for social status or approval. It encourages following passions, even if it means unconventional choices or a pay cut for a more enjoyable job. This is linked to the top regret of the dying: "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me".
Prioritise Long-Term Well-being Over Instant Gratification: It is advisable to prioritise actions that benefit long-term well-being over those that offer only short-term pleasure or instant gratification, such as excessive social media scrolling or extra drinks.
Embrace Change and Growth Beyond the Comfort Zone: A life free of regret requires one to step outside their comfort zone and embrace change and growth, rather than solely focusing on maximising comfort. Accepting oneself doesn't mean avoiding personal development.
Prioritise Balance Over Unfettered Work: To avoid regret, one should not prioritise work over everything else, such as health and relationships. The video highlights that working too hard can lead to missing crucial life moments, like children's childhoods, and that extra money does not necessarily bring fulfilment or joy that presence can. This directly reflects Bonnie Ware's second regret of the dying: "I wish I hadn't worked so hard".
Actively Nurture Friendships: To avoid dying "miserable and alone," it's crucial to invest effort in friendships, rather than letting them fade. This includes reaching out, organising social gatherings, sending cards, or initiating trips.
Express Feelings and Needs Authentically: Instead of always suppressing feelings, needs, or preferences, one should be honest with others about how they feel. Suppressing emotions can lead to unspoken frustrations and missed opportunities for authentic connections.
Practice Apology and Forgiveness: To live without regret, one should be willing to apologise and forgive others, rather than holding grudges indefinitely. Holding a grudge is presented as a path to regret.
Allow Yourself to Be Happy: It's important to let yourself be happy and not view happiness as a sign of mediocrity or a threat to ambition. One should avoid setting impossible, extensive checklists of conditions that must be met to experience happiness, as these rarely align in daily life. This point reflects the fifth regret of the dying: "I wish I had let myself be happier".
Actively Care for Your Health: To avoid regret, one should invest time, energy, money, and effort into taking care of their health. This involves eating healthy, exercising regularly, and avoiding unhealthy habits like excessive sitting or smoking.