Death still is a taboo in our Western societies. It’s not omnipresent anymore as this was the case even a hundred years ago. We live longer and healthier lives, which is a bliss and the result of the economic, social and medical improvements of the 20th century. But yet, we all know that in the end…
My 13-year-old stepdaughter asked me if she could get the book ‘The fault in our stars’ by John Green and I happily bought it for her. She finished it within two days. When I asked her what it was about, she said: “it’s about a girl who has cancer that falls in love with a boy that has cancer, too.”
What?
A life worth living
Applying my Signature Strength of curiosity, I dived in – and finished it in two days as well. And I admit, I had to cry a little, when the inevitable happened: one of the main characters died.
I’m emotional. When you are Living With Intensity (another fabulous book I wrote about at the end of this article) this is kind of ‘normal’ as I found out. I have many friends and several close family members who were diagnosed with cancer. Most of them are still alive. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront of many that they are mortal indeed (and that we don’t know how much longer we are going to live).
How can you not be afraid of dying?
This is my answer -not THE answer – because it’s tied to your spiritual and existential beliefs. You need not be afraid of dying if you live your life in Einstein Time, making consciously time every single day for the activities and people that matter most and that make your really happy.
The reality that your life will surely end can depress or scare you. It may also motivate you to gain clarity about what matters most and how you want to spend most of your time and energy.
The Fault in Our Stars, a tale of illness, death and suffering, inspired me to take action and to write the blog post ‘Start to flourish now – live your dreams’.
How to lead a fulfilling life
Have you been wondering about the big questions:
- What am I doing here on this planet?
- How do I cope with my mortality?
- How can I be happy here and now despite suffering in the form of cancer, loss, deception, etc.?
Knowing your purpose and your mission is, in my opinion, the foundation of a fulfilling life. It gives you direction, it acts as a compass. Meaning is one of the five paths to well-being as described by positive psychology founder Martin Seligman in his book ‘Flourish’. Purpose and meaning enhance our lives.
Having a purpose in life has been cited consistently as an indicator of healthy ageing. Recent research points out that the feeling that you have a sense of purpose in life may even help you live longer.
A mission furthermore makes you more resilient, it’s a driving force that helps you to cope with the vicissitudes of life and to link misfortune or difficulties of the present with the vision of your bright future.
Life is short – don’t wait to start thinking about the questions above, find your answers and take the necessary action steps NOW!
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This article was first published in 2014 and completely revised and updated in 2020.
Combining professional experiences in communication, project management and public health with scientific research around mind-body wellbeing, effective time management, goal achievement and happiness she supports you to harness your sensitivities and play to your strengths.
Working with her allows you to complete your mission and to always have time for the things and people that matter most.
- How to Stop your Inner Critic – Part 1 - 11/01/2023
- How you can achieve holistic happiness - 19/03/2022
- The Secret to Mutually Nurturing Relationships - 19/09/2021
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on 18/07/2014 at 03:13
What a great reminder about our own mortality in a gentle and loving way Patricia.
Life is a journey not a route to a destination and with one’s own purpose and mission understood it is exciting and enjoyable. Each day brings wonderful times.
Thank you for your valuable feedback this morning – you have such a natural ability to see things and to speak the truth.
Claire Mount recently posted…What are your Big Rocks?
Thank you Claire for your kind words, they touch me.
Having gratitude and Hope as a Signature Strength is a blessing, because even in the darkest moments we can feel the light with our mindbody. And during easy times of the journey, we are capable of seeing all the treasures in our lifes that seem obvious and that we might easily overlook.
Looking forward to continue along the path of growing a business and growing ourselves together.
Patricia Mauerhofer recently posted…How tales of death enhance our lives