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.

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

Mentioned in This Episode:

📘 The Rest Revolution – My book on shifting away from perfectionism and hustle culture

✅ 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

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: 

The investment is just $95, and I’d love to have you in the room.

This time last year, I was turning in the first draft of my manuscript for The Rest Revolution. 

While I still had many edits and revisions ahead, submitting the manuscript marked a turning point. It punctuated a season of deep personal and spiritual obedience.

Just three years earlier, I’d gotten honest with myself about what was missing in my life. I had a gnawing sense that I wasn’t sharing enough of my own words, my voice, my truth. I felt hungry—for expression, for alignment, for creative purpose.

And once I named that hunger, I chose to feed it.

I carved out time for writing classes. Then came freelance assignments and contributor opportunities. I found and built community with other writers.

I didn’t start with a 10-step plan. I simply tuned in to what I’d been trying to silence, and honored the signal. Each decision after that was fueled by the clarity that came from listening to my own desire.

That hunger held the answers.

And I believe your hunger holds wisdom, too.

With everything happening in the world right now—from mass layoffs to burnout—it’s easy to numb out, go on autopilot, or ignore your own internal signals.

In a recent Forbes article, I interviewed mental health and career experts about staying grounded during hard seasons. One line from Octavia Raheem continues to echo in my mind:

That clarity—the ability to distinguish what’s yours to carry from what can be released—is your power source.

So this April, I’m hosting a Spring Clarity Workshop, a live online experience to help you identify the hunger you’ve been suppressing—and make a plan to nourish it.

The Spring Clarity Workshop: Realign Your Work, Energy, and Vision

This is for you if:

 You’re rethinking your career, business, or visibility goals

We’ll reflect, audit, and build a personalized plan together—so you can start feeding the parts of you that are starving.

 Reserve your spot here→ [April Clarity Workshop]

Click here to grab one of the limited February coaching spots →[Enroll Now]

The current news cycle is so fast-paced and constantly changing, it makes it difficult to discern where to put your focus, especially when you need to stay informed about current events. The result can be a state of sensory overwhelm that can cloud your judgment and make it difficult to make decisions about everything, including how to navigate in your career.

Restorative coach Octavia Raheem offered a powerful antidote to this overwhelm: “Get clear on what is yours to do. Stay clear on what is not yours to do.”

But how do we actually figure that out? How do we discern the work that is ours to do from the distractions, obligations, and borrowed ambitions that pull us off course?

In my book, The Rest Revolution, I explore how rest, self-awareness, and alignment are essential to finding your most meaningful work. Here’s how to tune out the noise, reconnect with your true ambition, and set yourself up to do the work that is uniquely yours to do. Read more in Forbes.

Click here to grab one of the limited February coaching spots →[Enroll Now]

If you’ve been considering booking a 90-Minute Brand Brainstorm for Seasonal Clarity but aren’t quite sure what I can help you with, let me break it down.

For the past 13 years, I’ve helped people just like you:

 Uncover hidden opportunities – I help you see what you’re uniquely positioned for, whether it’s a new role, a new service, or a shift in how you package your expertise.

 Build visibility & credibility – I identify the media outlets, events, and workshops you should be targeting to expand your influence.

Turn skills into revenue – I help you figure out what services to pitch, what products to develop, and how to monetize your expertise in a way that feels aligned.

Step into thought leadership – I show you how to position yourself as the authority in your field, whether through a podcast, a book, speaking engagements, or convening important conversations.

I’ve done this for my clients—and I’ve done it for myself.

My own personal brand and visibility work has led to:

Winning national awards from PRWeek, National Black PR Society, and a fellowship from The Carter Center

 Landing a mainstream book deal (plus self-publishing multiple successful books and workbooks)

Publishing a podcast (over 150 episodes!) that attracts visibility and clients

Writing freelance articles for major outlets like The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, and FORBES

Securing TV segments for myself and my clients

If you feel stuck—whether in your career, business, or personal brand—this is your chance to get customized strategy and clarity so you can take your next step with confidence.

The 90-Minute Brand Brainstorm for Seasonal Clarity – A Private Session to Get Clear on What’s Next

This is for you if:

You’re rethinking your career or business in 2025 and need clarity on your next steps…

You’ve been laid off and want to figure out how to leverage your skills for new opportunities…

You’re feeling stuck or unfulfilled and need help seeing what opportunities exist for you to get energized around your work again…

You know you have valuable expertise but aren’t sure how to package, position, or monetize it…

What You’ll Walk Away With:

90-minute private strategy session with me over Zoom – A deep dive into your strengths, skills, and goals.

A 1-Page Personal Branding Plan – Your customized roadmap for career and business positioning to include an overview of your strengths, message, credibility points, and thought leadership opportunities.

Introductory Brand Messaging for your ‘About Me’ page or LinkedIn summary.

Clarity on your most profitable skills and how to turn them into real opportunities.

Immediately implementable strategies to build visibility and attract the right roles, clients, or media opportunities based on your unique situation and personality.

Click here to grab one of the limited spots →[Enroll Now]

These case study sessions are for February only. Once these spots are gone, the rate goes back up. So if this is speaking to you, now is a great time to make it happen.

Let’s stay focused on our most important work together.

Click here to grab one of the limited February coaching spots →[Enroll Now]

You’ve accomplished a lot. If you’re like my other executive coaching clients, you’ve checked the boxes of success—whether in your career, business, or personal brand. Yet, something still feels off. If you’re feeling unfulfilled but can’t pinpoint why, the answer likely lies in one of four key areas: income, influence, impact, or inner joy.

Fulfillment isn’t just about achieving goals; it’s about balancing these four pillars. If even one is neglected, you may experience a nagging sense that something is missing. By diagnosing where you’re out of alignment, you can refocus your energy and create a life that feels as rewarding as it looks. Feel free to borrow this framework I use with my coaching clients. Read more on Forbes.

Click here to grab one of the limited February coaching spots →[Enroll Now]

With everything happening in our country right now—from the relentless news cycle to President Trump’s dozens of executive orders and mass government layoffs—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. How do you move forward when so much feels uncertain?

For a recent Forbes article, I interviewed experts on how to stay out of overwhelm during difficult times, and something that Octavia Raheem shared really stuck with me:

“You have to stay focused on your sacred work and get clear on what is yours to do.”

That clarity—the ability to see the next step in front of you, no matter how chaotic the world feels—is everything.

For me, my sacred work is storytelling, translating our experiences, and helping people get clear on what’s next. I’ve been doing the writing—publishing prolifically in Forbes and on Substack—but the coaching and clarity work is just as important.

So this month, I’m offering something I haven’t done in nearly a decade:

The 90-Minute Brand Brainstorm for Seasonal Clarity – A Private Session to Get Clear on What’s Next

This is for you if:

You’re rethinking your career or business in 2025 and need clarity on your next steps…

You’ve been laid off and want to figure out how to leverage your skills for new opportunities…

You’re feeling stuck or unfulfilled and need help seeing what opportunities exist for you to get energized around your work again…

You know you have valuable expertise but aren’t sure how to package, position, or monetize it…

What You’ll Walk Away With:

90-minute private strategy session with me over Zoom – A deep dive into your strengths, skills, and goals.

A 1-Page Personal Branding Plan – Your customized roadmap for career and business positioning to include an overview of your strengths, message, credibility points, and thought leadership opportunities.

Introductory Brand Messaging for your ‘About Me’ page or LinkedIn summary.

Clarity on your most profitable skills and how to turn them into real opportunities.

Immediately implementable strategies to build visibility and attract the right roles, clients, or media opportunities based on your unique situation and personality.

I’m Offering a Special Case Study Rate for a Limited Time 

Normally, my private brand strategy sessions start at $2,500+, but for a limited number of people, I’m offering this for just $750 as part of a special case study project.

Why? Because I want fresh case studies on my coaching work, and I know that helping others get clear also helps me stay aligned with my own sacred work.

This is an exchange: You get the clarity and strategy you need for your next step, and I get to continue doing the work that keeps me grounded.

It’s Black History Month. For me, this is an especially important time to reflect on legacy, impact, and purpose. One of my life joys is helping high achievers like you get clear on what is yours to do and focused on how you’re using your skills to make a difference in the world, whatever your racial identity.

If you’re ready to step into clarity, I’d love to work with you.

Click here to grab one of the limited spots →[Enroll Now]

These case study sessions are for February only. Once these spots are gone, the rate goes back up. So if this is speaking to you, now is a great time to make it happen.

Let’s stay focused on our most important work together.

Thank you so much for tuning in to this special series of the podcast focused on my new book, The Rest Revolution: How to Reclaim Your Rhythm and Conquer Burnout When Overworking Has Become the Norm, which comes out in less than a week on November 13th.

The Rest Revolution isn’t just about rest; it’s about the great realignment that is happening in this country. People are slowly waking up to the idea that good lives require more than work and achievement. Good lives require you getting in alignment with the purposeful work, key relationships, and energizing activities that are most important to you. 

About Today's Episode

For today’s interview, I speak with Angela Benton on redefining work and rest in the context of personal health crises and lifestyle changes. Angela shares her own burnout breaking point and experiences transitioning from a high-paced career in technology to embracing a more balanced life on a farm.

We discuss the importance of intuition, nature, the impact of societal expectations on work habits and the necessity of re-evaluating these norms for personal well-being. 

Learn more about Angela and all of her projects at https://www.angelabenton.co/

Preorder The Rest Revolution 

Visit HTTP://www.therestrevolutionbook.com

Order The Rest Revolution on Amazon

Order The Rest Revolution on Barnes and Noble

Order The Rest Revolution at Books-a-Million

Order The Rest Revolution at Bookshop

It's publication day for Rest is Sacred: Reclaiming Our Brilliance Through the Practice of Stillness by Octavia Raheem! The new book is available today everywhere books are sold! Get your copy here.

Thank you so much for tuning in to this special series of the podcast focused on my new book, The Rest Revolution: How to Reclaim Your Rhythm and Conquer Burnout When Overworking Has Become the Norm, which comes out on November 13th.

The Rest Revolution isn’t just about rest; it’s about the great realignment that is happening in this country. People are slowly waking up to the idea that good lives require more than work and achievement. Good lives require you getting in alignment with the purposeful work, key relationships, and energizing activities that are most important to you. 

About Today's Episode

In this episode, I sit down with the rest queen Octavia Raheem to discuss the transformative power of rest and the journey from burnout to healing. Octavia shares her personal experiences with burnout, the importance of stillness, and how she became a rest practitioner. We explore the significance of community in healing and the impact of communal rest through retreats and the need to prioritize rest and self-care in a fast-paced world. 

Octavia Faith Ann Raheem and I explore the transformative power of gathering, the importance of co-regulation in nervous systems, and the embodied experiences of rest. We discuss how leaders can benefit from rest, the role of imagination in problem-solving, and the significance of creating safe communal spaces for healing and rejuvenation. The dialogue emphasizes practical tools for integrating rest into daily life and the collective responsibility to foster environments that support well-being.

Rest is Sacred: Reclaiming Our Brilliance Through the Practice of Stillness is available today everywhere books are sold! Get your copy here.

Learn More About Octavia and her new book Rest is Sacred at OctaviaRaheem.com

Learn About The Rest Revolution 

Visit HTTP://www.therestrevolutionbook.com

Order The Rest Revolution on Amazon

Order The Rest Revolution on Barnes and Noble

Order The Rest Revolution at Books-a-Million

Order The Rest Revolution at Bookshop

Thank you so much for tuning in to this special series of the podcast focused on my new book, The Rest Revolution: How to Reclaim Your Rhythm and Conquer Burnout When Overworking Has Become the Norm, which comes out on November 13th.

I’m thrilled to share this book with you because it’s my most important work yet. In The Rest Revolution, I explore how we’ve been conditioned to treat ourselves like machines and how this mindset leads to burnout, exhaustion, and a disconnection from our true selves.

The Rest Revolution isn’t just about rest; it’s about the great realignment that is happening in this country. People are slowly waking up to the idea that good lives require more than work and achievement. Good lives require you getting in alignment with the purposeful work, key relationships, and energizing activities that are most important to you. 

I interview high achieving professionals, psychologists, sociologists, and medical experts on how we can you can reclaim your humanity, find more balance, and choose to live and work in a way that truly aligns with your purpose. It’s about breaking free from the toxic cycle of overwork and finding a new, sustainable way forward. If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on fumes or just going through the motions, this book is for you.

If you love this podcast, I know you’ll love the book. The Rest Revolution will be available on November 12th from all major booksellers, and you can visit www.therestrevolutionbook.com to preorder your copy now. I can’t wait for you to read it.

About Today's Episode

In this episode, I interview Natalie MacNeil, discussing her journey as a futurist and the importance of overcoming burnout through rest and deep listening. We explore the intersection of futurism and embodiment practices, the significance of trusting intuition, and how AI can empower entrepreneurs to achieve their goals while maintaining balance in their lives. The conversation emphasizes the need for transformation in the face of rapid technological changes and the potential for diverse voices to emerge in storytelling.

In this juicy episode, Natalie and I explore the transformative impact of AI on productivity and service-based businesses, the evolution of ambition and authenticity, and the importance of rest and healing from burnout. Natalie shares her journey of building an AI dream team, the challenges and benefits of integrating AI into business workflows, and how her relationship with ambition has shifted from seeking external validation to focusing on authentic contributions. We even discuss the societal implications of AI on job roles and the necessity of embedding rest into daily life to combat burnout.

Takeaways

• Deep listening is essential for personal and professional growth.

Quotes by Natalie MacNeil 

"I think it's such an incredible book." - Natalie MacNeil on The Rest Revolution

Learn More About Natalie MacNeil

Visit HTTP://www.nataliemacneil.com

Learn about Natalie's New Course - AI Dream Team

Learn about Natalie's Coaching Certification - Coaching Evolved

Follow Natalie on Instagram - @NatalieMacNeil

Learn About The Rest Revolution 

Visit HTTP://www.therestrevolutionbook.com

Order The Rest Revolution on Amazon

Order The Rest Revolution on Barnes and Noble

Order The Rest Revolution at Books-a-Million

Order The Rest Revolution at Bookshop

Hello, this is Amanda Miller Littlejohn, and thank you so much for tuning in to this special series of the podcast focused on my new book, The Rest Revolution: How to Reclaim Your Rhythm and Conquer Burnout When Overworking Has Become the Norm, which comes out on November 13th.

I’m thrilled to share this book with you because I believe it’s my most important work yet. In The Rest Revolution, I explore how we’ve been conditioned to treat ourselves like machines and how this mindset leads to burnout, exhaustion, and a disconnection from our true selves.

The Rest Revolution isn’t just about rest; it’s about the great realignment that is happening in this country. People are slowly waking up to the idea that good lives require more than work and achievement. Good lives require you getting in alignment with the purposeful work, key relationships, and energizing activities that are most important to you.

I interview high achieving professionals, psychologists, sociologists, and medical experts on how we can you can reclaim your humanity, find more balance, and choose to live and work in a way that truly aligns with your purpose. It’s about breaking free from the toxic cycle of overwork and finding a new, sustainable way forward. If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on fumes or just going through the motions, this book is for you.

If you love this podcast, I know you’ll love the book. The Rest Revolution will be available on November 12th from all major booksellers, and you can visit www.therestrevolutionbook.com to preorder your copy now. I can’t wait for you to read it.