Science and Spirituality
Why Envisioning Death a Few Minutes Daily Makes Me Livelier and Happier
I no longer fear my mortality as I’m immune to it by rewiring my mind for acceptance and seeing it as a natural progress.
Many people are naturally afraid of death. The fear of mortality is a complex and deeply ingrained aspect of the human mind, rooted in biological, emotional, and psychological factors that I intensely explored during my scientific studies for personal and professional reasons.
The intensity of the fear of death varies among people and can be influenced by personal experiences, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds. The fear of death is natural. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I used to fear my mortality, and it sometimes paralyzed me.
The fear of mortality is a subject that philosophers, psychologists, theologians, and scientists have explored for centuries. They developed interesting thoughts and valuable coping mechanisms to address this existential fear we can all learn from.
Contemplating our mortality can naturally trigger existential concerns about the meaning and purpose of life for some people. The fear of death may arise from grappling with questions about the ultimate significance of our existence, which may lead to anxiety and depression.
I struggled with fear of mortality in my younger years when studying Existentialism, Nihilism, and mythologies, which further intensified my fear. My morbidity in my younger years exacerbated my fear of mortality.
But as I got older, healthier, wiser, and more mature in my thinking, I found practical ways to deal with this existential concern I share with you briefly in this story to give you a helpful perspective.
Why do we fear death?
Evolution has hardwired living beings, including humans, with a strong survival instinct. Fear of death is a natural part of this instinct, as it serves as a mechanism to protect and ensure the survival of the species.
Death symbolically represents the unknown. Who isn’t afraid of the unknown? It is impossible to comprehend what happens after death for non-believers who don’t have faith in the afterlife. This uncertainty can be unsettling for some people.
Death psychologically represents the ultimate loss of control. Many people fear being unable to control the circumstances surrounding their death, leading to feelings of helplessness.
Some people associate death with the loss of consciousness and a permanent end to their self-awareness. This thought can be profoundly frightening as it challenges our identity and existence.
Some people might fear the process of dying, which can involve pain or suffering. The anticipation of physical or emotional pain can contribute to the fear of death.
We are naturally attached to people around us, life experiences, and the broader world. The idea of leaving behind loved ones, unfinished goals, and the beauty of life can be emotionally distressing for some people.
Some people might have unfulfilled dreams, goals, or unresolved conflicts. The fear of dying before accomplishing these can contribute to the fear of death.
The fear of death can also be influenced by societal and psychological factors. Media, literature, and social discussions often reinforce and magnify these fears.
In addition, cultural and religious beliefs play a significant role in shaping our perceptions of death. Beliefs about an afterlife, judgment, or reincarnation can impact the way people perceive and fear death.
Why I Envision Death Daily, And How Does It Help Me?
Every day, for a few minutes, I engage in a unique practice — envisioning my death. It might sound dreadful, but for me, it’s a profoundly mindful approach to life that encompasses psychology, spirituality, and science. This practice potentially rippled into various facets of my life, including business and overall well-being.
Seeing life and death as like ying and yan, my initial inspiration came from ancient philosophical traditions like Stoicism, which have long encouraged the contemplation of death as a means of achieving tranquility.
I fell in love with the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. This spiritual mentor, whom I met in my lucid dreams, gave me insights into how to live a virtuous life, manage adversity, and maintain inner tranquility.
Then, I explored several more stoics like Seneca, Zeno of Citium, Epictetus, and Chrysippus, all pondered on mortality daily. Seneca’s “Letters to Lucilius” sharpened my understanding of Stoic principles, like self-awareness, self-control, and the pursuit of wisdom.
From a psychological perspective, my daily exercise involves confronting my own mortality in a gentle way with acceptance. It is somewhat akin to exposure therapy. By repeatedly contemplating death, I’ve learned to desensitize my fear, gradually cultivating acceptance. It aligns with psychological theories that facing our fears can diminish their power over time.
On a spiritual level, this practice resonates with philosophies emphasizing detachment from the material world and accepting the natural cycle of life and death. This has become a path to spiritual growth through acceptance for me.
Exploring the scientific aspect, I have discovered that research in psychology and neuroscience suggests that regular mindfulness practices like meditation can rewire the brain, influencing emotional regulation and our response to stress. Acceptance of death, in this context, might contribute to mental resilience and well-being.
Cognitive restructuring played a significant role in this practice. It involves the conscious reshaping of my thoughts about death. I believe regular contemplation may influence brain regions associated with emotional responses and decision-making. So, this practice could lead to behavioral changes, impacting how I approach life and its challenges.
When envisioning death daily, various psychological and neurological mechanisms become apparent to me. It involves my cognitive restructuring, where I consciously reshape my thoughts about death, potentially reducing my fear response over time.
Neurologically, this practice may influence areas of the brain associated with emotional regulation, like the prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, and other parts of the limbic system. Therefore, I have found myself less emotionally impacted by the fear of mortality.
Mindful awareness aligns with a heightened presence in the present moment and an acceptance of life’s impermanence. It’s as if I have unlocked the teachings of the Terror Management Theory, suggesting that fear of death motivates human behavior.
This theory posits that “to manage the potential for terror engendered by the awareness of mortality, humans sustain faith in worldviews that provide a sense that they are significant beings in an enduring, meaningful world rather than mere material animals fated only to be obliterated upon death.”
Understanding this theory and putting it into practice using cognitive and emotional techniques, I have contemplated death regularly, and I have managed to mitigate this fear and its influence on my actions.
The mindfulness-based theories emphasize the benefits of awareness and contemplation in promoting well-being, reducing stress, enhancing cognitive functioning, and regulating emotions.
My meditation practice three times daily might be contributing to my psychological and emotional resilience, fostering acceptance and reducing anxiety about mortality. Mindfulness and meditative practices encouraged me to live intentionally and pursue meaningful goals.
From a business and productivity standpoint, embracing mortality has infused a sense of urgency and purpose into my daily life.
In the context of my work, it has enhanced my productivity and sharpened my focus on meaningful goals and discarding empty goals. The impermanence of life has become a driving force for my impactful action.
Societal Impact
I also investigated the societal impact of the fear of death in the literature. I noticed that on a broader scale, the societal impact could be profound.
Cultures that embrace the acceptance of death might cultivate greater empathy, kindness, compassion, and a focus on collective well-being, recognizing the fleeting nature of life.
I will cover the societal impact in another article as it is comprehensive.
Faith
Related to societal and cultural aspects, I also investigated the role of faith in reducing or eliminating the fear of mortality. I came across substantial literature on this topic, which gave me valuable perspectives.
I noticed that faith can provide solace in the face of the fear of death by offering a belief in something greater than the physical domain, whether it is a divine presence, an afterlife, or a spiritual connection.
Faith provides a sense of purpose and meaning, helping believers steer the existential fear of mortality with the belief that their lives have a greater significance and that death is not the ultimate end but a part of a larger, purposeful journey.
Near Death Experiences
Learning about near-death experiences gave me valuable perspective. NDEs can alleviate the fear of death by offering people firsthand accounts of experiences that often include a sense of peace, light, and a feeling of being welcomed.
The NDE encounters suggest the possibility of an afterlife or a continuation of consciousness beyond the physical realm, reassuring that death may not be a frightening void but rather a transition to a positive or spiritual state.
As documented by Dr Bruce Greyson on After, NDEs can also instill a deep sense of purpose and a shift in perspective, prompting people to live more meaningfully and with reduced fear of mortality, as they may view death as a gateway to a potentially beautiful or transcendent experience.
Lucid Dreaming
I found lucid dreaming a helpful tool to lower or diminish the fear of mortality. In my lucid dreams, I was aware of dreaming and exercised a degree of control over the dream content. These dreams provided a sense of agency and mastery over the dream environment, creating a feeling of empowerment.
For example, lucid dreams allowed me to mimic the afterlife or the exploration of a different reality, leading me to question the finality of life or the meaning of death.
Lucid dreaming offered me a unique opportunity to confront and explore the concept of death in a safe and controlled dream setting, promoting a positive perspective on mortality and reducing fear by promoting curiosity and wonder about the unknown.
I shared a few lucid dreams in my stories. I link them here for interested readers.
Here’s a Glimpse of the 33rd Century Altering My Perspective on Life.
Here’s How I Uncovered the Esoteric Interpretation of “God is Watching from a Distance.”
Conclusions
Regularly contemplating death has led me to acceptance of mortality, fostering my psychological and emotional resilience. My daily practice is harmonious with Stoic and mindfulness principles, contributing to my overall mental health. Embracing mortality has inspired me to have a more purposeful and focused approach to daily life.
In addition to Stoics and Buddhist philosophy, modern mindfulness techniques, including some meditation practices, involve acknowledging the transient nature of life, aligning with the concept of daily death contemplation.
Examples from ancient philosophies and modern mindfulness techniques showcase the diverse applications and the potential impact described by theories like Terror Management and mindfulness-based theories. Scientists have also explored these theories to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
I noticed that faith in religious or spiritual practices could offer comfort and reassurance, as it suggests that death is not the final endpoint but rather a transition to another existence or a reunion with a higher power.
I also believe that in the grander scheme of things, societal acceptance of death might lead to cultural shifts, emphasizing shared values with more empathy and compassion, focusing on peace rather than war in this transient world.
I wrote several personal stories about death compiled in my insightful life lessons collection. Here are some examples.
A Mentor’s Death: Thoughts and Sentiments from Memories for Janine
My Tributes to a Centenarian Friend Who Died on New Year’s Eve.
I Found 6 Patterns After Deeply Researching ALS Disease for My Father.
When Dave Died from a Heart Attack at a Young Age, I Was Deeply Sad But Not Surprised.
The Striking Impact of Negative Body Image on Vulnerable People
If you enjoyed this story, you might also check out this inspiring, heartwarming, and insightful story about death written by Beth Riungu titled Dying Is the Most Intimate Space We Ever Share.
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
To inform my new readers, I wrote numerous articles that might inform and inspire you. My topics include brain and cognitive function, significant health conditions, valuable nutrients, ketogenic lifestyle, self-healing, weight management, writing/reading, and humor.
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