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cognitive
Death Awareness Exercise
A practice of consciously confronting mortality and death awareness to transform anxiety into meaning and purpose. Based on the principle that 'though the physicality of death destroys us, the idea of death saves us'—awareness of death can serve as an awakening experience that catalyzes positive life changes, helps prioritize what truly matters, and deepens appreciation for life.
Source: Described in 'Staring at the Sun' by Irvin D. Yalom. Yalom explains how death awareness can serve as an awakening experience that enriches life, helps people rearrange priorities, and prompts authentic engagement with life.
Varies
intermediate
anxietydepressionstressrumination
How to practice
- 1Reflect on your mortality in a structured, contemplative way
- 2Consider what death awareness brings to your attention about how you want to live
- 3Use this awareness to identify what truly matters to you
- 4Allow death awareness to help prioritize your values and choices
- 5Practice shifting from everyday concerns to appreciating the miracle of being itself
- 6Notice how awareness of mortality can reduce fears of rejection and judgment
- 7Use death awareness as a catalyst for making meaningful life changes
Based on literature
Staring at the Sun
Irvin D. Yalom • 2008
Overcoming the terror of death - an existential approach to death anxiety and finding meaning.