How to Live When You're Aware You're Going to Die
Death is one of the few universal truths we all share, yet we spend so much of our lives trying not to think about it. But what if leaning into that awareness could actually enrich our lives?
At The Existence Collective, we believe that death isn’t something to be feared or avoided. It's something to be acknowledged, respected, and even befriended. When we learn to hold space for the inevitability of death, we often find ourselves living with greater clarity, presence, and intention.
Embracing Mortality as a Compass
Knowing we’re going to die isn’t morbid - it’s motivational. Awareness of death can:
Help us clarify what truly matters
Encourage us to speak truth more often
Prompt us to let go of perfectionism
Push us to pursue our desires and dreams while we can
When we internalize that our time is finite, we start to ask better questions:
Am I spending my days the way I want to?
Who do I love, and do they know it?
What legacy - big or small - do I want to leave behind?
Practical Ways to Live More Fully
Here are some gentle, intentional practices that can help you live more vibrantly:
1. Keep a "Mortality Journal"
Reflect weekly on questions like:
If this were my last month, what would I want to experience?
What am I avoiding that I might regret later?
2. Say the Thing
Tell people you love them. Apologize. Speak your truth, kindly but clearly. Don’t wait for a perfect moment - it may never come.
3. Reclaim the Mundane
Find wonder in small rituals. Drink your coffee like it’s the last cup. Pet your dog like it’s the last time. Life happens in the details.
4. Build a "Living Legacy"
Rather than obsessing over what you'll leave behind, consider how you're showing up now. Your legacy is being built in every conversation, every choice.
5. Get Comfortable with the Uncomfortable
Talk about death. Plan your end-of-life wishes. Explore your fears with someone you trust. Doulas, coaches, and therapists can all hold that space with you.
Living Doesn’t Mean Ignoring Death - It Means Dancing With It
There’s a strange kind of liberation that happens when we stop running from our mortality. We begin to feel more. Laugh more. Connect more. We stop numbing and start noticing. We get brave.
At The Existence Collective, we’re here to walk alongside you as you ask the big questions, wrestle with uncertainty, and make peace with the reality that everything ends - and that’s precisely what makes it beautiful.
If you're curious about exploring this more deeply, whether through existential coaching or end-of-life care, we’d be honored to be part of your journey.
Because life doesn’t come with an instruction manual - but we’ve got you.
