In our modern era of fast-paced life, constant digital connectedness, and a culture striving to be “doing” all the time, it’s easy to get caught up in things that don’t matter. If we can reflect on the bigger picture in life, the preciousness of each moment, we can more easily let go of things that aren’t important.
That’s why Shoshana Ungerleider, a writer over at MindBodyGreen, believes thinking about mortality at least once a day can bring some major benefits to your life. Here are three of them.
First benefit: you’ll be motivated to leave a legacy. The idea of legacy awareness is a way to connect with our own mortality as it relates to our work, loved ones, and creative endeavors. If we think about legacy as a means to transcend death, we may be more likely to invest in our health and personal development throughout life.
Second benefit: life will instantly feel more precious. Life is temporary. Even when you’re young and healthy, your life could end unexpectedly at any time. Recognizing that life is fleeting helps us find joy and meaning in the small things—sunset and sunrise, a smile on your child’s face, a tree in the park—that sometimes get lost in the day-to-day. The people in your life can take on a new value. because we realize that their lives are also temporary.
The third benefit: you’ll learn not to sweat the small stuff. So many of us are on a quest to find balance in our lives and define our own priorities. Remembering that we have this one life to live can help when weighing where we want to put our energy and attention—and where we don’t.
