The Regrets of the Dying, the Machine Mindset, and Remembering What Really Matters

You’ve probably seen the lists — The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying.

Regrets like:

“I wish I had spent more time with the people I love.”

“I wish I had taken more risks and followed my dreams.”

But what if the real tragedy isn’t waiting until the end of life to feel those regrets?

What if we’re already living them — every day — by back-burnering the things that matter most?

In this episode, I’m reflecting on how easily we can lose sight of what truly feeds us: small joys, nourishing relationships, creative passions, and moments of stillness.

I also share an excerpt from Chapter 3 of The Rest Revolution on back-burnering what matters — and the 6 sneaky beliefs that lead so many high-achievers into burnout, disconnection, and misalignment.

In This Episode, I Share:

• Why the regrets of the dying often start long before the end of life

• What “back-burnering” means — and how it quietly shapes our lives

• The 6 beliefs that keep us from tending to what matters most

• Why the smallest rituals (like walking your dog or calling a friend) are everything

• How joy is directly connected to your energy and well-being

Journal Prompt:

What have you been back-burnering?

And what would it look like to move that thing to the front burner of your life again?

Resources Mentioned:

• The Rest Revolution – Available now wherever books are sold

• Join me for the Spring Clarity Workshop on Sunday, April 13 — a space to reconnect with your sacred work and realign with the highest and best use of your gifts. Reserve your spot here →Spring Clarity Workshop

Connect with Amanda:

• Instagram: @iamamandamillerlittlejohn

• Website: www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com

Author, executive coach, and personal branding strategist Amanda Miller Littlejohn shares a powerful reading from Chapter Six of her book, The Rest Revolution, and opens up about her ongoing journey to embrace rest in a world that glorifies hustle.

If you’ve ever struggled with slowing down, even after realizing you're burned out, this vulnerable reflection will meet you where you are. Amanda explores the deep roots of our overworking habits and offers a gentle reminder: it takes time—and compassion—to unlearn the machine mindset.

In this episode:

• The real reason rest doesn’t feel easy

• Why burnout is more than a personal failure

• Embracing stillness without guilt

• Creating new mental grooves and habits

• Giving yourself grace as you recalibrate

📘 The Rest Revolution is available now. Order the book or review it here. 📲 Follow Amanda on Instagram: @iamamandamillerlittlejohn 📝 Leave a review to help others discover the show.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful mindset shift that came into focus during a recent trip to NYC. Over the course of 36 hours, I had three major visibility opportunities—two were amazing, and one totally flopped. But instead of spiraling over the one that didn’t land, I felt grounded. Why? Because I had volume on my side.

When you stack opportunities, no single one has the power to derail your confidence. We explore why taking more swings is the secret to building momentum, buffering against failure, and staying resilient in your journey.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✨ Why opportunity is truly a numbers game ✨ How one “bad” talk didn’t break me because I had two wins lined up ✨ The mindset shift from machine to human (and why it matters) ✨ The power of applying for multiple fellowships, not just one ✨ How volume can emotionally insulate you from rejection ✨ Why you need to be planting seeds constantly to stay in momentum

Mentioned in This Episode:

📘 The Rest Revolution – My book on shifting away from perfectionism and hustle culture 🗽 NYC trip takeaways – 3 visibility moments in 36 hours ✍🏽 Journalism fellowships and personal essays – The power of applying and pitching in batches

✅ Spring Clarity Workshop - Get clear on what hunger is currently calling you

Listener Takeaway:

Stop betting everything on one perfect pitch or one big moment. Instead, embrace volume. Take more shots. Apply to more things. Speak in more rooms. Create more opportunities for yourself so you’re never defined by just one.

All you need is one to hit.

Loved this episode? Here’s how you can support:

✅ Share it with a friend who needs the reminder to keep swinging ✅ Post your biggest takeaway on social media and tag me ✅ Leave a rating or review wherever you listen—it helps more folks find the show!

Join me for a Spring Clarity Workshop on April 13

In a couple of weeks, I'm hosting a Spring Clarity Workshop over Zoom to offer a structured, supportive space to pause, reflect, and figure out what’s actually next for this season of your life and work.

I'll meet live with attendees to focus on:

• Getting clear on what season you’re in now (because seasons shift, and your brand should too)
• Getting clear on what goal you most want to focus on and what actions you need to take to reach that goal
• Mapping your next aligned moves based on what’s easy for you but valuable to others
• Auditing your brand story, visibility, and time investment to bring your work into better focus

The investment is just $95, and I’d love to have you in the room. Reserve your spot here → [Spring Clarity Workshop]