Mortality as our Teacher
Talking about death…society sweeps that under the rug…
Actually THINKING about YOUR mortality… “pffft yea, no thanks. I don’t want to talk or think about it”…
Being present and facing the fears around death…now that’s the juice…
Some may say, “The juice? Soraya, are you nuts? Talking and thinking about death, let alone MY death, is terrifying!!!”
Terrifying? Yes, indeed that is valid…AND…what if I told you that death contemplation/facing your own mortality is the gateway to living the life you desire? Would you dare to bring in that child-like curiosity in exchange for liberation?
Fear is the biggest culprit for why people don’t think about the fact that we are mortal in this existence - and that alone is disempowering.
This writing is an invitation for you to become curious about any fears around death and dying…
Either save this for later or continue forward if you desire to explore this further.
First step: Identify where the fear may lie.
What does the dying process feel like? (ex: pain, suffering, losing control, etc)
What comes after death, if anything at all? (ex consciousness surviving, love after death?)
FOMO after death? (ex: leaving a to-do list, incomplete projects)
Fear of not living your life fully ? (ex: “I can’t die because xzy”)
Step two: Explore (set a timer and spend only 1-1.5 minutes on each part. Don’t overthink it. Allow what comes to surface and be present with it once you’ve answered all of the questions.)
*Often times any fear we have tracks back to the fear of death…have fun with this one ; )
What aspects of aging feel most difficult right now?
In this moment, I am grieving…
What is my biggest fear in life? How is that connected to the fear of death? (Example: Fear of drowning - asking “what if” until you reach the end. What if I go swimming in the ocean? I could be taken by an undertow. What if I’m taken by the current? Then the waves can take me under. What if the waves take me under? I will suffocate/drown in the water. What if I drown? I will die)
Is there anyone I trust to make decisions for me at the end of my life?
Who do I want to have at bedside in my final moments? What is the state of these relationships as of today?
What will I miss the most about the human experience?
If you were given ONE day to live, how would you spend it? What would you do in the time you had left?
Step three: Reflect.
Now that you’ve answered these questions…What did, if anything, this exercise teach you? How do you want to live your life? Did these questions bring forward any changes you want to make in life? Perhaps visit that place you’ve always wanted to go? Have conversations with some people to clear the air? Tell that person you’re in love with them? Did you find that maybe you need/want to connect to nature more?
Let this be a guide for how you live the rest of your days, no matter where you’re at in age. Revisit these as often as you’d like. We are constantly changing which means the answers you’ve provided are likely going to change as well.