How can we live without regrets?

Nov 21, 2024

The discussion kicks off with Nietzsche's thought experiment, the 'eternal return,' challenging listeners to consider living their lives repeatedly. It dives into common regrets people face, particularly around relationships and authenticity. The importance of intentional living and emotional connections emerges as vital for a fulfilling existence. Ultimately, the conversation nudges us to reflect on our life choices to minimize future regrets.

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Living Intentionally: Lessons from Regrets

00:00 • 3min

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#169

• Mentioned in 96 episodes

The top five regrets of the dying

Bronnie Ware

In this book, Bronnie Ware shares her experiences from working in palliative care, where she identified the five most common regrets of the dying. These regrets include: '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,' and 'I wish that I had let myself be happier. ' The book provides a heartfelt and inspiring account of how these regrets can be addressed while there is still time, promoting a life of greater compassion, honesty, and happiness.

Written in 1882 and expanded in 1887, 'The Joyful Wisdom' is a significant work by Friedrich Nietzsche. It delves into the reconciliation of life's painful realities with a joyful acceptance, introducing concepts such as 'amor fati' (the love of one's fate) and the eternal recurrence. The book challenges conventional moral frameworks and emphasizes the importance of humor and lightness in navigating existence. It is noted by Nietzsche as 'the most personal of all my books' and contains more poems than any of his other works.

Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, in his work The Joyful Wisdom, explored this through a thought experiment he called the "eternal return." He asked us to imagine: What if you had to live this very life, exactly as it is—every joy, every sorrow, every thought—over and over, for eternity? How would you feel? Would you embrace it? Or, as Nietzsche suspected, would you recoil in horror?

Nietzsche believed this reaction reveals a deep-seated struggle many have with regrets and missed opportunities. His work, which dates back to 1882, shows that the anguish of missing out on one's life is not new but common to us all.

So how can we avoid regret? What are these common regrets? What about relationships? Are these regrets unavoidable? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

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