You Are Going to Die –Here’s Why That’s the Best News Ever
Confronting your mortality isn’t morbid; it’s the key to living a fuller, more intentional life
Death.
It’s the one universal truth we all share, yet it’s the thing we talk about the least. We avoid it, fear it, and pretend it’s a distant reality, something we won’t have to think about until we’re much older. But what if truly embracing the fact that we will die—whenever that time may come—could be one of the most powerful motivators for living a meaningful, fulfilling life?
I didn’t fully grasp this until my father-in-law passed away from lung cancer that no one knew he had. He had been a lifelong smoker-turned-vaper, and his death came as a shock. In the wake of his passing, I found myself deeply reflecting on my own life and the choices I was making. I asked myself some hard, uncomfortable questions: What habits and actions was I engaging in daily that might be limiting the amount of time I have with my husband? My family? My friends? Our future children?
I didn’t like the answers I was giving myself.
It’s humbling to be that raw and honest with yourself about where you are. But instead of shaming myself, I chose to accept myself as I was—without judgment—and then asked the next question: Where do I want to go? What kind of life do I want to live? What changes do I need to make to ensure that when I’m old and looking back, I can truly say I lived a life I was proud of?
This is where transformation happens.
Too often, we’re afraid to be honest with ourselves because we don’t want to face the discomfort of seeing where we’ve fallen short. But avoiding the truth doesn’t change it. Confronting the reality of death forced me to see just how far I still had to go in reaching the life I truly desired. It clarified my priorities—creating art, feeling good and healthy, spending quality time with loved ones, and simply being happy.
Among the most profound changes I made were the decision to stop drinking alcohol (I am coming up on two years sober!) and to start strength training. These two shifts completely transformed my life—I am about 45 pounds lighter, with so much more muscle mass, and feeling the best, happiest, and healthiest I ever have. Taking control of my health and well-being became a direct response to the realization that my time on this earth is precious, and I want to make the most of it.
Death isn’t something to be feared. It’s something to be acknowledged, accepted, and even used as a guidepost for living a more intentional life.
Using Death as a Motivator
If thinking about death makes you uncomfortable, I encourage you to lean into that discomfort. Let it challenge you. Let it bring clarity to the way you’re living right now. Here are some journal prompts to help you begin this process:
If I had one year left to live, how would I spend my time?
What would I regret not doing if my life ended tomorrow?
What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind?
What habits or actions am I engaging in now that could be limiting my time with loved ones?
What parts of my life feel out of alignment with my true desires?
These questions aren’t meant to be easy. They’re meant to be real.
Facing Our Fears to Find Peace
I recognize that for some, death is a triggering topic. But sometimes, the things that trigger us the most are the very things our minds and bodies are asking us to confront so that we can begin to heal. Avoiding thoughts of death won’t make it any less real. Instead, normalizing this conversation can help us approach it with less fear and more understanding.
So, what do you want to do before your time is up? What changes do you need to make today to ensure that when you reach the end of your life, you can look back with pride and peace?
Let’s start talking about death—not as something to dread, but as something that can push us toward the most honest, intentional, and fulfilling life possible.
