https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/want-to-feel-happier-more-fulfilled-science-says-think-about-death-a-lot-more-often-starting-today.html
archive link: https://archive.ph/bRbAh
> Death is a psychologically threatening fact, but when people contemplate it, apparently the automatic system begins to search for happy thoughts.
> Add it all up, and considering your death doesn’t make you reach for your bucket list; considering your death makes you less self-centered and more likely to engage in prosocial behaviors.
> It’s easy to live mindlessly when you think you’ll live forever. When you face — and embrace — the fact your days are numbered, your perspective changes.
> Or if it sounds a little Bhutanese-y, that’s also because it is. According to a Bhutanese folk saying, to be happy you must contemplate death five times a day.
> When you understand that nothing is permanent you cannot help but follow a better, happier path. It calms your mind. You tend not to get overly excited, angry, or critical.
> With this principle, people interact with others and it improves their relationships. They become more grateful and gratuitous.
> Think of it this way. Today could be the last day you get to make a difference in another person's life. Today could be the last chance you get to someone feel they matter. Today could be the last day you get to say "I love you" to the people you care about.
I stumbled upon this idea when reading some psychology writing.
I think I have read an aphorism in Zorba the Greek to try to live each day like it's your last, and to try to also live like you'll live forever, and wisdom is to know something of how to combine both those ideas together.
I think I've thought of death a lot but I'm not totally sure how much it's improved my life. I have known certain people who have died around me and had that sense of trying to make the best of each day since tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
But anyway, maybe thinking about death could be beneficial for putting people's lives in perspective more.
edit: I think as relates to religion, thinking about death sometimes reminds people to try to be more virtuous and to avoid sin more.
The only mark you will ever leave on the world is your children and grandchildren. Maybe someone will make a monument to honor you but only because you have enough grandkids that people will remember you.
Death is inevitable and not something that should be put off when it is time. Killing people who need to be killed isn't morally wrong. Not killing people who need to be killed IS morally wrong.
I don't want to die a burden on my family. When I get old and useless I won't try to prolong my life unnaturally.
Kids deserve to live under the illusion that life is beautiful for as long as possible. When they become adults, they deserve to be told that the world is a far more dark and sinister place than they could possibly imagine. Kids don't need to know that stuff, but adults can't put it off for long.
I used to think combat sports like boxing and MMA were just brutish exercises of indulging animal instincts, but now I understand why it is so important that we have them in our society. Same for war. It is necessary, not evil. Put it off for as long as you can, but when it is time, don't hold back.
You might care less or more about the day to day conflicts that might not matter in some instances or other ones might matter more
It's a natural "deadline" to think about, which could strike at any time (hence of being prepared as in the above, and not delaying some things which we might otherwise delay without some kind of urgency)
There are probably other things to consider, it's a good question
u/MI7BZ3EW
That is not how I think and live.
It is the opposite in fact.
"Oh, I have one more moment to live. I'd better use it while I have it." Or "I'm not getting any younger." Or "I can rest when I am dead."