Death is an experience that we will all go through one day. It will not be in the same way, at the same age, or with an identical afterlife experience. Nobody wants to think about what their own funeral might be like in the future. Thoughts about ageing and death can often unleash anxiety.
There is a relationship between being aware of you mortality, and placing value on staying healthy. The fear of death may cue attempts to control its randomness. The realization that we are all going to die can have a positive effect on our life. The fact that we will die may be difficult to accept, but it could also help us to get stronger mentally.
Have you ever
considered mortality legacy awareness (MLA)? The creative MLA provides a way to leave
something behind after one's death for those left behind. This could mean you
have outlived and transcended death with what was left (like some kind of antique). In
wrestling with mortality, practice these three steps as often as they are needed:
1.
If needs be,
find a trusted person can you talk with about death (when it arises) Whether
it’s in-person or online,
find someone you can talk with about death. If you’ve mentally shut down with
well-intended advice you might need to find somebody else to communicate with.
It’s not that these people are afraid of death, they’re mentally in a place to
help you right now, and that’s okay. Talking about death and “why we’re here”
is a conversation that’s important to have with someone you can trust..
2.
Realize that
you are unable to figure out everything related to your own funeral You can plan for death, but you have no control of your
funeral once you are gone. It’s frustrating to know that when I die (even with
a will) things will happen that I cannot control because I’ll be dead. Make sure
your wishes are known as soon as possible.
3.
When needed,
how can you best approach end-of-life planning. Sometimes
when loved ones die, the living go home and start writing up wills for
themselves. Let your emotions rest before taking your will to a lawyer.
End-of-life planning is best done from a non-frantic space of
level-headedness not immediately after a loss happens when emotions are running
high. So when we say, “know yourself well enough,,” this means know how much
time and distance you need from your loss in order to approach end of life
planning from a more focused place. This will be different for everybody.
“Self-awareness is a supreme gift, a treasure
as precious as life. This is what makes us human. But it comes with a costly
price: the wound of mortality. Our existence is forever shadowed by the
knowledge that we will grow, blossom, and, inevitably, diminish and die.” (Irvin D. Yalom)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“Why Being Aware of Your Mortality Can Be Good
for You” by Mark McDermott and Oona
McEwan
·
“Realizing I’m Really Going to Die Someday” by Shelby Forsythia
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