Hello and welcome back to the savvy psychologist. I'm Dr. Ellen Hendrickson and every

week I'll help you meet life challenges with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

So apropro to Solar Eclipse Mania comes a quote from a 17th century French nobleman.

Neither the sun nor death can be looked at steadily.

Four hundred years later, his word still hold.

And I know that these episodes are not exactly cocktail party conversation, but never talking

about our deepest fears only makes them grow bigger.

Therefore, last week we tackled two questions about the physical aspects of death.

Does it hurt?

And what will my final moments be like?

This week, we'll continue on with four psychological questions

about death.

So big thanks to listener Mark in North Carolina

for starting this conversation.

So let's get into the fears. Fear number one is I'll die with

regrets and this is certainly a legit fear. Pretty much everyone regrets something, though not necessarily a past action.

Indeed, two researchers from Cornell University found that our greatest regrets come less

from the things we did and more from what we let slip

through our fingers. As they put it, quote, actions produce greater regret in the

short term, whereas inactions generate more regret in the long run.

So why do we more often regret the road not taken?

Well the reason may be simple.

...