This is probably one of my favourite questions – one that offers the most inspiration and relief. Especially when I’m anxious about something I have to do and I feel like giving up and retreating into avoidance.
“What if I knew for a fact, that I’d be dead tomorrow; that today was my last day, in this body, on this planet?”
It’s such a great question. Without fail, it reminds me of what’s important and re-focuses my mind of the things that I value (rather than my immediate fears and worries.) Experiencing awkwardness or discomfort seems a lot more tolerable, if it’s my last chance to do it. The rewards of social connection, getting out in nature, doing hard things… they’re all amplified by this question.
Focusing on death, inspires life.
This question leads to others: Would I waste time worrying or complaining about this? What might I say, think or do, differently? What might I notice and appreciate, with love and gratitude? What would I spend my day doing and why? Where would I spend it and who would I spend it with?
We’re all dying, just at different speeds. But not all of us are living. We get caught up in the day-to-day of work, routines, paying bills, events and emails. We’re so busy ‘fire-fighting’ that we forget what’s important. We end up prioritising and focusing on the trivial, and shelving the really important stuff until we’re ‘ready.’
The tragedy is that today would very well be my last day, or yours, or someone we love. And whatever the universe has planned, it isn’t going to wait around until we’re ‘ready.’ So we may as well LIVE, today.
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