About 20 years ago when I was a director of the Ipoh Community Hospital which is a charity hospital, I invited an Australian palliative care expert to give a talk to all our hospital staff and invited guess. After a long lecture, I asked “what do the dying persons usually say before they die?” They have 3 regrets.

1. They should have live a life to please themselves instead of pleasing others.
2. They should have the courage to express their opinion instead of keeping quiet.
3. They should have spent their money more lavishly on themselves instead of saving for their children

In my opinion, the two worst words we can say to ourselves are "what if?" I have spent countless hours thinking about what could I have done differently in my life and truth be told, it didn’t make them any better. While it is hard not to think about your past, you can't let it control and consume you. Learning what are our biggest sources of regrets are, and how we can avoid and overcome them, is a key component in a happy and satisfied life. After going over this insightful information I've realized a lot of things that have changed my life for the better.

Living a life without regrets is a common aspiration for many people. However, it is not always easy to achieve, as we may face challenges, setbacks, and mistakes along the way. Fortunately, there are some tips and strategies that can help us live more authentically, peacefully, and joyfully, regardless of our circumstances. Here are some of them, based on the web search results I found:

Be realistic about the 'damage.' 

Sometimes, we may exaggerate the negative consequences of our actions or inactions, and feel guilty or ashamed for things that are not as bad as we think. Instead of dwelling on the past, we can try to assess the situation objectively, and see if there is anything we can do to make amends, apologize, or improve. If not, we can accept that we are human and imperfect, and forgive ourselves and others.

Be true to yourself. 

One of the most common regrets of the dying is not living a life that reflects their true values, passions, and dreams. To avoid this, we can try to identify what matters most to us, and pursue it with courage and determination. We can also avoid comparing ourselves to others, or letting others dictate our choices. We can listen to our intuition, and follow our own path.

Express your emotions. 

Another common regret is not expressing our feelings, especially to the people we love. To prevent this, we can try to be more open and honest about our emotions, and communicate them in respectful and constructive ways. We can also express our gratitude, appreciation, and affection to the people who enrich our lives, and let them know how much they mean to us.

Focus on what you can control. 

Sometimes, we may regret things that are beyond our power, such as the actions of others, the outcomes of events, or the changes in the world. This can make us feel helpless and frustrated, and waste our energy on things we cannot change. Instead of doing this, we can try to focus on what we can control, such as our attitude, our behavior, and our response. We can also look for opportunities to learn, grow, and adapt, and make the best of every situation.

Try new activities. 

One way to live a life without regrets is to explore new possibilities, and challenge ourselves to step out of our comfort zone. We can try new hobbies, learn new skills, travel to new places, meet new people, and discover new aspects of ourselves. We can also embrace change, and welcome new experiences with curiosity and enthusiasm.