Podcast Summary: Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Episode: BITESIZE | 5 Life Lessons Everybody Learns Too Late (And How to Live With Fewer Regrets) | Bronnie Ware #601

Date: December 5, 2025
Guest: Bronnie Ware — Author of "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying" & Former Palliative Care Nurse
Host: Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Overview

This Bite Size episode features a profound conversation between Dr Rangan Chatterjee and Bronnie Ware, who shares wisdom gathered from years spent caring for people at the end of their lives. The discussion explores the five most common regrets of the dying, how to live with fewer regrets, and actionable steps for creating a more fulfilling, regret-free life. Ware’s insights urge listeners to reassess what truly matters before it’s too late.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying (03:25)

1. “I wish I’d lived a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
2. “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”
3. “I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.”
4. “I wish I’d stayed in touch with my friends.”
5. “I wish I’d allowed myself to be happier.”

"I spent eight years looking after dying people and the most common regret during those eight years was, I wish I'd lived a life true to myself, not the life that other people expected of me." — Bronnie Ware (03:28)

The Umbrella Regret (04:06)

• Dr Chatterjee suggests that the first regret—living true to oneself—could be an umbrella under which the other regrets fall, implying that authenticity naturally leads to fewer regrets.

"If you are honoring that first one and living a life true to yourself, you are going to prioritize work-life balance, you're not going to work as hard… you're going to do those other things." — Bronnie Ware (05:17)

The Cost of Working Too Hard (05:49)

• Chronic stress and burnout are on the rise, with studies indicating up to 88% of UK workers experiencing burnout.
• Bronnie stresses that the regret isn’t about disliking work, but about letting it consume your identity and de-prioritizing personal relationships and dreams.

"If any of us can just think, what would I love to do if I didn't have to work so hard… commit to it and create that habit, then life tends to expand and support us because we've shown the courage and commitment to actually having a better life." — Bronnie Ware (08:44)

• She advises scheduling “space with no agenda” as a form of medicine, which replenishes creativity and clarity.

"Space is medicine to me… I actually have to schedule it in sometimes to have unplanned time that has no agenda, just to allow myself to be in and let the day take me wherever it wants to." — Bronnie Ware (07:55)

A Personal Turning Point: The Story of Grace (11:02)

• Bronnie recounts Grace, a patient who stayed in an unhappy marriage and never lived her dream to travel after her husband’s ill health and subsequent loss.
• Grace’s plea—“promise me, Bronnie, that you'll always have the courage to live a life true to yourself, not the life others expect of you”—became Ware’s personal wake-up call.

"She squeezed me… and said, ‘Promise me, Bronnie, that you’ll always have the courage to live a life true to yourself, not the life others expect of you.’" — Bronnie Ware (11:25)

The Illusion of Time & The Power of Awareness (13:43)

• Many assume they will live to an old age and postpone meaningful changes, but life is unpredictable and doesn’t guarantee time for later reflection or correction.
• Bronnie emphasizes the need to acknowledge our mortality to fully engage with life.

"It is easy to assume that you will live with great health to a ripe old age and then die peacefully in your sleep… It doesn't work out this way for most people, however." — Dr Rangan Chatterjee quoting Bronnie Ware’s book (13:43)

What Sets Regret-Free People Apart? (17:32)

Bronnie observed that people without regrets exhibited three key traits:

1. Strong Family Relationships: Honest, open communication and support reduce regret.
2. Humour: Ability to laugh at oneself and life’s twists fosters acceptance.
3. Faith or Belief in Something Greater: Whether religious or spiritual, this provided peace and contentment.

"Another was humour… the other was faith… They just trusted there was a, in the bigger picture, that everything was fine, the way they'd lived." — Bronnie Ware (17:41, 18:39)

• Dr Chatterjee notes parallels with the Harvard Study of Happiness, which finds quality relationships are foundational to well-being (20:01).

The Essential Role of Courage (21:08)

• Two of the five regrets mention courage. Bronnie defines it as:
  • Breaking through resistance and fear to do what feels right, despite uncertainty or judgment.
  • Recognizing that making mistakes is part of living; regrets often stem from self-judgment, not the mistake itself.

"For me, it means breaking through the resistance… courage is that force that can say, I'm scared, but I'm still going to do this." — Bronnie Ware (21:33)

• Courage is hindered by fear of potential, fear of others’ opinions, and fear of failing.

"Being scared of our potential being as amazing as we can be." — Bronnie Ware (22:09)

• Cultivating compassion for our younger selves transforms mistakes into learning, not lifelong regrets.

"If we can have a bit of compassion for our younger selves, then [mistakes] are just mistakes. They're not regrets." — Bronnie Ware (24:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Space is medicine." — Bronnie Ware (07:55)
• "Promise me, Bronnie, that you'll always have the courage to live a life true to yourself, not the life others expect of you." — Grace, as remembered by Bronnie Ware (11:25)
• "We all assume we're going to live a long time... But that is actually how life works." — Bronnie Ware (14:11)
• "If you are honoring that first one and living a life true to yourself... you certainly have less chance of having those other regrets." — Bronnie Ware (05:17)
• "Two of the regrets... have the word courage in them." — Dr Rangan Chatterjee (21:08)

Timestamps for Main Segments

• 02:16–03:25 — Introduction to Bronnie Ware & Overview of Regrets
• 03:25–05:49 — The Top Five Regrets Explained
• 05:49–10:39 — Discussion on Work, Burnout, and Finding “Space”
• 11:02–13:20 — Grace’s Story & Bronnie’s Turning Point
• 13:43–16:19 — The Illusion of Time and Facing Mortality
• 17:32–19:10 — What Regret-Free People Share: Relationships, Humour, Faith
• 20:01–21:33 — The Role of Relationships and Humour in Happiness
• 21:08–24:11 — On Courage, Compassion, and Differentiating Mistakes from Regrets

Final Takeaways

• Living authentically and honouring your own values is foundational to a life with fewer regrets.
• Work is not your whole identity—making time for relationships, rest, and joy is essential.
• Courage to act, speak your truth, and pursue dreams, even imperfectly, is key.
• Regret-free living is commonly rooted in strong relationships, humour, and faith/spirituality.
• Reflect now—don’t wait for a crisis or the end of life to make changes.

This episode is a powerful reminder, “It is by acknowledging that you are going to die that you get to truly live life.” (16:14)

For a deeper exploration, listen to the full original conversation with Bronnie Ware (episode 383).