Memento Mori: Remember You Must Die | Weekbook #23
It is natural to shy away from death, for it is a reminder of our own mortality. The irony is that adopting this mentality often causes one to forget to live at all.
Remember that you must die.
This Latin proverb, which is core to Stoic philosophy, is frequently misconstrued as a morbid statement, and it is easy to see why. It is natural to shy away from death, for it is a reminder of our own mortality. Instead, people prefer to focus on life, ignoring the inevitability of its conclusion.
The irony is that adopting this mentality often causes one to forget to live at all, for how can you make the most of something you view as endless?
Parkinson's Law teaches that work expands to fill the allocated time. The same concept can be applied to a life perceived as indefinite. How many times have you told yourself that you'll do it tomorrow? What if tomorrow never comes, for it certainly is never promised.
This is why accepting your own mortality is critical to living a fulfilling life. In doing so, you acknowledge that time to experience the wonders of life is finite. Your eyes are opened, enabling you to make the most of each moment and to take nothing for granted.
Embrace the concept of memento mori. Remember that you must die and remind yourself to embrace all that life has to offer. Take off your shackles. Do not wait to make that change you've been hesitating over or to pursue your purpose. Your life is yours to live, but do not wait to start.
Reading Notes
A collection of the best insights I’ve read this week.
Hebb's rule: https://neuroquotient.com/en/pshychology-and-neuroscience-hebb-principle-rule/
Research proves your brain needs breaks: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/brain-research
The P.A.R.A productivity method: https://fortelabs.com/blog/para/
Try this Podcast
Ending Quote
"We all have two lives. The second begins when we accept that we only have one" - Confucius
Thumbnail credit: Photo by Mathew MacQuarrie on Unsplash