Do you know what the top five regrets of the dying are? Wishing you had worked harder, surprisingly, isn’t on the list. Eleanor will discuss the importance of discovering one’s true purpose as a key step in the way to long-term fulfillment. In this interactive session, (pens and paper provided…), she will challenge you to consider your own personal history, how it has shaped your identity and values and show how understanding that can help you lead a more meaningful life. Living a life that aligns with your values can be hard when you may have concerns about the opinions of others. Aside from the value individuals take from understanding their purpose, or ‘why’, in the workplace, more engaged and self-aware employees are happier, more engaged, productive and creative in the workplace – if your company values are aligned with theirs. https://businessofsoftware.org/events/europe-2024/dr-eleanor-gunn-the-top-five-regrets-of-the-dying-what-you-can-do-now/

1. THE REGRETS OF THE DYING: WHAT
YOU CAN DO NOW
DR ELEANOR GUNN
March 25-26, 2024

2. I WISH I'D HAD THE
COURAGE TO LIVE A
LIFE TRUE TO
MYSELF, NOT THE
LIFE OTHERS
EXPECTED OF ME
1
REGRETS OF THE DYING
BRONNIE WARE, 2012
I WISH I HADN'T
WORKED SO HARD
2
I WISH I HAD THE
COURAGE TO
EXPRESS MY
FEELINGS
3
I WISH I'D STAYED IN
TOUCH WITH MY
FRIENDS
4
I WISH I HAD LET
MYSELF BE HAPPIER
5

3. EMOTIONAL HEALTH
IN TECH
50 % HAVE DIAGNOSABLE MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITIONS
OSMI, BIMA, START UP SNAP SHOT
52 % EXPERIENCING BURNOUT
72 % OF FOUNDERS REPORT AN
IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH

4. IMPOSED VALUES

5. IMPOSED VALUES
• Purposes imposed on us by others
• Unquestionable or universal truths
• Introduced in subtle ways - unintentionally
scaffolded by societal structures
• Based on fear, avoidance or to live up to others’
ideals or expectations of you
• Pursuit gives temporary pleasure but can
create dissatisfaction and resentment
• Autopilot or unconscious choices when we are
not cultivating a conscious and intentional life.

6. LIBERATING
VALUES:GUIDING
PRINCIPLES
• Discovery of Real Purpose <-> Discovery of Self
• Life’s compass - direction vs. endpoint
• Resonates with who you are
• Specific vision vs. vague and uninspiring
• Action oriented
• Goals: serve your purpose they are NOT your purpose
• Moving towards vs. hiding away

7. TREE OF LIFE

8. INTRODUCE AND
SHARE

9. YOUR ROOTS
• Where do you come from (country, town, village)
• What is your family history? (Origins, Family Name, extended family,
ancestry)
• What are your family values?
• Who taught you most in life when you were younger?
• What did you get taught by others growing up?
• What was your favourite place when you was a child?
• What was your treasured song growing up?

10. THE GROUND
• What is your daily life like?
• Where and who do you live
with?
• What are your everyday
activities?
• What are your hobbies?
Passions? Interests?
• Where is your favourite place
to spend time

11. YOUR TRUNK
• What are your skills?
• What are your abilities?
• How did you learn these?
• What are your natural talents?
(e.g. being kind to others, taking
care of others- the things that
you do every day without
thinking much about them)
• What skills or abilities do other
people think or tell you that you
do well

12. THE BRANCHES
• What are your hopes and dreams?
• What are your wishes for the
future?
• What is the story behind your
hopes and dreams- why is this
important to you? Are they linked
to other people important in your
life?
• How will it take to get there?
• How long have these hopes and
dreams been with you?
• What has helped sustain them?

13. YOUR LEAVES
• Who is important to you?
• Why are these people special to you?
• Who inspires you? (who are your role models,
famous people you admire)
• What memories do you have about the people who
are special to you?

14. YOUR FRUITS
• The gifts we have been given in
our life.
• Acts of kindness or love or they
can be physical gifts - anything
that you feel grateful for
• What do you think you might
have contributed to their life?

15. WRAPPING UP

16. NURTURING YOUR TREE
Reading:
• The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris
• No Hard feelings by Lizzie Fosslien &
Mollie West Duffy
• The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A life
Transformed by The Dearly Departed by
Bronnie Ware

17. www.emotionallyconnected.co.uk
Thanks
dreleanorgunn@gmail.com