Why Think About Death For a Life That Matters
“In the end, these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?” – Buddha
Do you avoid thinking about death? It can seem morbid at first but according to some scientific studies, thinking about death in a specific and personal way can make a person value and appreciate life more fully. Not forgetting too is Steven Covey’s advice about beginning with the end in mind. So if we are to take the advice and project to the furthest, we will be thinking about death.
Death is often perceived as the end. But death in this life does not mean that your consciousness dies. In fact it is a passage into a different state of consciousness. You can read more about this from the book by its commonly known title, The Tibetan Book of the Dead
To ask you to think about death is essentially a call for you to put some conscious thought about your current life. Thinking about death triggers you to recall about how life has been like for you. Here is also where you take stock of your accomplishments, successes and failures. You look into your past for lessons and you resolve to live differently from now, in order to experience a more positive future.
What It Means To Take Stock
“If you want to know how to live your life, think about what you’d like people to say about you after you die. And live backwards.”
– anonymous
I am sure that you have watched this scene at least once on TV or in the movies being played: a person expressing tremendous regret while lying on the deathbed. It may also be something that you have witnessed yourself with a loved one. In fact, such scenes are powerful motivators for the many who go on to creating bucket lists.
Through not wanting to live in regret, you will realize that it is time to let go of petty quarrels. Or even the big ones. You begin to see it is not worth wining the battle but losing the relationship. The battle is the heated argument you had with your spouse or mother this morning. And you take the important step of repairing wounds and healing scars before you lose the relationship to regret.
You also begin to realize who are the important people in your life. All the material pursuits cannot take the place of experiencing love. Nothing matters more than truly living from the heart. You also would like to leave a legacy based on love.
Thus, you make the choice immediately. After all, it does not make any sense to carry any unnecessary baggage and cause yourself more misery for the remaining half of your life. You also decide to stop complaining, whining and blaming; but find ways to live more joyfully in the present. Each moment counts towards the end.
You Decide What Matters Most
One of the greatest failures in life is the failure to participate in life – fully! – Abundance Tapestry
A life worth living is one without regrets for sure. Indeed, thinking about death helps you to consider what does living a life without regrets mean. This can mean differently to everyone. It can mean that you have done all the things that you have wanted to do. It can mean saying sorry to all the people that you have wronged. Or it can mean that forgiving your parents for a tortured past.
A life that matters is one filled with meaning. Victor Frankl shares in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning
Former US President, Woodrow Wilson talked about living richly. He once said,
“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself if you forget this errand.”
From Steve Jobs perspective, it boils down to following your heart….
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
From Buddha’s perspective, it is about loving unconditionally, living fully and letting go deeply. Applying these three tenets lead you to freedom – your entry into nirvana.
Your Turn Now
And so, what is it for you?
In the comments box below, please share your thoughts and reflections about living a life that matters.
Love and abundance always,
Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.
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Evelyn Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Hi there,
Thanks for sharing your views.
I believe that pain, in many circumstances, can be optional. There is no need to suffer unnecessarily but in reality, most of us do create psychological pain for ourselves. And it is through experiencing contrast that lets us know where we would like to shift towards.
Wishing you much love and joy always,
Evelyn
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