Bronnie Ware, a palliative care worker and author of The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, has spent eight years supporting terminally ill patients during their final weeks. Through her experiences, she has uncovered the most common regrets people have as they face the end of life.
Speaking on Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s Feel Better, Live More podcast, Bronnie revealed that the greatest regret voiced by those nearing death is: “I wish I’d lived a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” This desire to live authentically outshone all other regrets.
She outlined other common reflections shared by patients: “The second-most common was, ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.’ The third was, ‘I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.’ Next was, ‘I wish I’d stayed in touch with my friends,’ and finally, ‘I wish I’d allowed myself to be happier.’”
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Bronnie explained that many people mistakenly assume they will enjoy long, healthy lives before passing away peacefully, but reality often differs. Many of the individuals she cared for chose to spend their last weeks at home, where confronting their mortality frequently led to profound personal revelations.
On her personal website, Bronnie elaborated on the leading regret, emphasizing how often people reflect on unfulfilled dreams. “Most had not honored even half of their dreams and faced death knowing this was due to the choices they made—or didn’t make,” she wrote.
She stressed the importance of honoring dreams in the present, warning that once health declines, the freedom to pursue them is lost. “Health brings a freedom very few realize until it’s gone,” Bronnie noted.
Regarding regrets about work-life balance, Bronnie observed that every male patient she cared for regretted missing out on their children’s youth and partnership bonds due to overworking. While some women shared this regret too, many from older generations had not been the primary breadwinners. Nevertheless, the toll of prioritizing work over life was a consistent theme among those she supported.
Bronnie Ware’s compassionate reflections offer a powerful reminder to live authentically, nurture relationships, and prioritize happiness before it’s too late.