Skip to main content

The Fear of Death & Its Irrationality

     When our time comes, and we have lived our lives to the fullest, a new chapter begins.  That chapter is death, and often times we are afraid of it.  We are afraid of death not for what it is but for what it implies; the unknown, change and leaving our old lives behind.  Humans fear change and the unknown because we actively seek comfort, stability, and happiness.  These aspects have a chance of providing what we seek, but they can also cause pain, instability, and sadness.  We may end up feeling lost or unsure of what happens next.  When it comes to death, it is different from regular unknowing and change, because the only way to understand death is to experience it for ourselves.  We cannot imitate death nor can we truly understand what happens until it is our time to move on.  This, as well as the thought of leaving everything you have built behind, can make death even more frightening.  However, we should not fear death at all, because it is natural, our destiny, and a new chapter in our story.  We were born from nothing and we will return to nothing.

     We do not generally think about where we were before being born.  This is because we grew up as a human, so humanity is all we know.  We do not question our existence prior to humanity, because we do not remember it.  However, it can be just as scary to ask about where we came from as opposed to asking the question of death, where are we going?  So, why do most of us brush off this instance and only fear death?  It is because we are focused on living our lives in the world we know rather than wondering what we left behind.  When death comes around, we think about our humanity, what we build throughout the years, and how it saddens us to leave it all behind.  However, could not the same logic of life before birth be applied to death?  We seemed to have been born from nothing, so should returning to this state really be frightening?  Maybe we have experienced death before and it is the gateway to new life.  Maybe the reason we do not remember our lives prior to birth is that we take on a new form, phoenixes that rise from the ashes, leaving our old lives behind to begin anew.  Maybe there is a new realm, such as heaven, where we all go after our time on Earth has ended.

     I knew a woman in hospice and would be kept up to date on her health and well-being.  One day, she was close to death, and her sister asked her if she could see anyone from the other side.  The woman said she did, but they were facing away from her as if they knew she would be afraid to see them.  However, based on their demeanor and what they looked like from the back,  she said they looked familiar.  It would not be surprising if these people were related to her in some way, visiting her from the other side to make her death more comfortable.  I also knew a woman who passed away suddenly.  Before her grandkids were told, her granddaughter told her parents that she saw grandma in her room.  She said grandma was talking with her but was also with someone else.  Grandma said that it was her mother.  When the parents asked another relative if they had told the granddaughter of her grandma's passing, she said no.  So, essentially, the granddaughter was visited by her grandmother after passing away, and she came with her own mother who passed away years ago.  The granddaughter could not have known about her grandmother's death, because she was never told.

     Both of these stories bring up one possible explanation, death is not the end, it is the next phase of our existence.  If these stories are true, then they could explain what happens when we pass, we live in another realm surrounded by those we have lost during our time on Earth.  This should give us some reassurance and give us the opportunity to live our lives without fearing death.  We could potentially be going somewhere as comforting as the lives we live currently.

     Death should not be feared, because it is the next step in our journey.  However, I firmly believe we should live our lives until we die a natural death.  If we do so, pushing through life's hardships, enjoying the good times, and make memories with those we love, when we pass, we will have done all we could on Earth to live as happily as possible.  A premature death does not bring about happiness, but the loss of opportunity.  That opportunity allows us to learn and experience life as much as possible, so when death comes for us after living for 80+ years, we can rest easy knowing we are moving on from something wonderful.  We do not know what lies ahead, but we can make our lives on Earth more enjoyable by preventing ourselves from believing it is completely negative.  Live your life without fear, make the most of it, and when the time comes, accept the change and be reborn.
Be sure to add Scanlon Blogs to your reading list!   
https://scanlonblogs.blogspot.com/

Have anything to add?  Let me know how you feel in the comments!

Song of the Blog
Today's Song of the Blog is "Faithfully," by Journey!

Follow me on social media!




YOU, SCROLLING THROUGH THIS BLOG, thank you for reading!  I thoroughly enjoy talking with my readers, so shoot me a message, or leave a comment, if you want to chat!  Thank you!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Finding Your Creativity - 5 Methods

     Creativity is an invaluable resource and the backbone to human progression.   Every advancement made throughout human history was the result of someone’s creative and intellectual mind.   Planes, trains, and automobiles are great examples.   However, creativity is not used solely for the progression of mankind.   Creativity can also be used in an individual’s everyday life to make life easier and more enjoyable.   People use their creativity to solve problems, make their daily routine more efficient and less time consuming, as well as for entertainment purposes.   If you have ever made up a story in your head while bored you know what I am talking about, or if you played with action figures, inanimate objects, or roleplaying games.      As kids, we seem to have a limitless supply of creativity.   Much of that has to do with our curiosity, innocence, and lack of responsibility.   However, some ‘grow up’ a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Important Life Lessons to Live By

     Today, I thought I would do something a little different.  Instead of discussing one topic, I thought I would share some life lessons based on my experience.  These nuggets of wisdom have helped me progress through life with an open, confident, and positive attitude.  I hope you benefit from them as much as I have.  Here are five important lessons to live by. 1. Speak up for Yourself      Far too many live in silence due to the fear of conflicting ideologies.  Because of this, they end up putting themselves second to other people, agreeing with them, and/or allowing themselves to be pushed around.  People can and will take advantage, and it is saddening to know there are people who allow this to happen.  Everyone deserves to be heard.  Do not be afraid to defend yourself or your opinions when need be just because it conflicts with another person.  They are not better than you nor are their beliefs.  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Three Effective Ways to Maintain Self Control When Provoked or Agitated

     Despite what people might think in the moment, getting angry at someone you dislike, being violent, or showing hostility does more harm than good.  We've all been there, a situation where we become so angry or annoyed that we just want to lash out.  Subconsciously we think, "this is the right thing to do," and our anger takes over.  I want you to remember a time this has happened and how it panned out.  I am sure there are instances where it is justifiable to lash out, but more often than not people regret their actions almost immediately.  We are left feeling foolish and our reputation takes a hit, the severity being dependent on the situation and the size of the blowup.  Due to the consequences, people tell themselves they will be more aware and prevent similar occurrences from happening again.  Unfortunately, not everybody learns from their mistakes.  We forget our past actions far too quickly and often repeat mistakes....
Post a Comment
Read more