Facing the hard truth will keep you focused on what really matters.
We all have that a thing.
The one thing we should do – but don’t. Sort through the paperwork that has been sitting on your desk for ages. Spring cleaning of the house and garage. Finally, sign up for the gym or resume your workouts. Every time you try, your motivation plummets like a 1980s cartoon character.
So you postponetell yourself you will do it tomorrow, and sit on the couch again watching TV – poof, all motivation is gone.
I know how easy it is to make excuses. “I’ll do it when I have more time, once this is over, or next weekend when I have more energy.” The hard truth?
Most of these “tomorrows” never arrive – and we fail to realize our potential.
“This is our big mistake: thinking that we are impatiently waiting for death. Most of the dead have already disappeared. Everything that has passed belongs to death. » – Seneca
Do you want to be on your deathbed thinking about all the things you wish you had done?
I know it’s an uncomfortable thought, but you can use it to your advantage.
Stoic wisdom that will change your outlook on life
Imagine this grandiose landscape for a second.
In the days of the Roman Empire, victorious generals rode through the streets in a triumphal chariot, the public’s eyes glued to them like chocolate ice cream to a child’s mouth.
While the citizens cheered the hero, few noticed the wizard standing behind him. But he had a crucial role.
From time to time he whispered in the general’s ear: “Remember, you are mortal.”
This seems confusing: why would you receive such a devastating message at the height of your victory?
Because it helps you remember what matters.
“You could leave life now. Let that determine what you do, say and think. – Marcus Aurelius
This is what the Stoics called “meditation on mortality”. It is not a question of maintaining fear but of accepting the preciousness of the present. It is a call to focus on what is truly important, eliminating trivial concerns and living each moment with aim And virtue.”
Remember that life can end at any moment, so it’s best not to waste a second of it.
If you use it right, this thought can give you the kick you need.
How to use it to massively motivate yourself
Over the past few years, I’ve had a few close encounters with death.
A falling coconut hit my shoulder, narrowly missing my head. One boat didn’t see my friend and I swimming, turning at the last moment before the hull crashed into us. I broke my foot while climbing, and without a good deal of luck and the lightning reflexes of my guardian angel, I would have been a puddle of strawberry jam on the ground.
Each of these incidents shook me and made me appreciate my time on this planet more.
I vowed to spend less time on social media, call my parents more often, and double down on my gratitude practice.
With each incident, I learned something crucial: Death is both our greatest fear and our greatest motivation.
When you remember you’re going to die, you stop the bullshit. You know that when the time comes, excuses don’t count. You encounter cold, hard facts.
Luckily, you don’t deal with near-misses every day — your stress level would be higher than the price of Taylor Swift tickets.
You can use these practices instead.
Use reminders
After one of my close calls, I changed my phone’s background to a simple “I will die.”
Every time I unlock it – what Americans do 144 times per day on average – I see this little reminder. Each time, I am reminded of the uncomfortable truth.
If this sounds depressing, it’s even more of a sign that you have too much to do.
Don’t run away from this feeling. Use wallpapers from your phone and laptop, a post-it note on your apartment door, a note in front of the TV to make you think before you turn it on.
Remember the truth.
Meditate on it
The next time you’re lacking motivation, close your eyes for a second.
Imagine yourself on your deathbed. Imagine your family looking at you, imagine yourself revisiting everything you have done in your life.
Do you want to blame yourself for scrolling through social media and watching TV instead of working on your goal and spending time with your loved ones?
With this thought in mind, remember: “I will die.”
Feel yourself in it. Realize that you do not have forever on this planet. Ask yourself if you are ready to let go of what matters.
Let death help you appreciate life
How many times have you been in an uncomfortable situation that you wished would end quickly?
The boring meeting. The fight with your partner. Bullying children. The pain that burns your muscles in the gym.
We often wish we could skip the “bad” parts to get to the “good” parts.
What if I told you that you only have one day left to live? One week? A month? That this is the last time you experience this side of your life?
Would you not cherish it and absorb every last drop, like a lost wanderer, from a puddle in the desert?
The truth is you don’t know when your life will end.
You just know it will.
So cherish it. Do what matters. Don’t waste your time.
Feel the importance when you say:
“I will die.”