We are of the Nature to Die

Thinking about death isn’t usually a fun thought. Instead, we may get more pleasure thinking about our next delicious meal, or a deeply satisfying relationship, or snuggling ourselves under a blanket during cold weather. But deep down, we know that everyone dies eventually. We are going to leave all of this world behind us at some point—-all that we hold dear and everyone that we love.

I think that one of the beautiful derivatives of this reality is that everything changes. Nothing is forever. And while that is true for things that give us pleasure, it is equally true for things that cause suffering. Take, for example, a challenging relationship in your life, or an illness in a loved one, or a financial setback. No matter how consuming it may be at the moment, you can bank on its not lasting forever. Something else will manifest in that space.

The awareness that everything changes can allow us to not only appreciate (or tolerate) the moment, but also to open up the possibilities of the future. An awareness of those possibilities invites to set an intention right now so that we might experience the future we want.

Don’t let your fear freeze your ability to make the intentional choices to live your best life, to have the impact on your world, the environment, and reduce the suffering that is present in the lives of those we care about.