We’re afraid of death, and more often than not, we pretend it doesn’t exist. But accepting death helps us to make better decisions in our lives, and therefore to be happier. That’s why I’m inviting you to overcome your fear of death with 5 tips.

1 – Death as an advisor

We’re afraid of death, because we don’t know what to do with this truth. It makes us uncomfortable. We tell ourselves it’s the end of everything.

Yet death can be a valuable guide in life, inviting us to make far better decisions, day by day.

In fact, if you were to accept the idea of your own death today, you would become aware of the miracle that is life. And you’d never live the same way again.

In other words, to overcome the fear of death, it’s essential to transform our vision of it. Death is not our enemy, but our guide to a happy, serene life.

In concrete terms, this translates into a question we should ask ourselves day after day: what if I were to die tomorrow, in 6 months, 1 year, is it important what I’m worrying about?

Or is what I’m putting off going to create regrets on my future word-bed?

2 – Fear of death: death is not the end

We’re afraid of death because we’re not sure what happens afterwards.

But who says we have to know everything about life? After all, isn’t life a mystery? So why should death be any different?

In fact, when we’re afraid of death, it’s essential to understand one thing: we have a choice.

The choice to believe in something that stresses and frightens us. Or, the choice to believe in something that makes us feel good and soothes us.

In other words, since we have no certainty about the afterlife, why not invent one that we like? In fact, why not tell ourselves that death isn’t the end and that there’s something else afterwards?

The choice is yours.

3 – Death is not a separation

We fear death for ourselves, but also for our loved ones. Indeed, the very idea of their death, of being separated from them, is unbearable.

Once again, it’s a question of choice.

Do we choose to believe that we’ll end up permanently separated or not?

In fact, in life, it’s all a question of choosing what we decide to think or not. For, our thoughts come and go, and if we don’t choose the ones that really resonate in our hearts, then we’ll continue all our lives to be the plaything of our darkest, saddest thoughts.

What do we choose?

Why not believe that a part of our loved ones will always live in our hearts? Why not imagine them by our side at every moment? Indeed, why imagine this emptiness over and over again? Why not fill it with beautiful thoughts? Hope? Love?

4 – Death is natural

We may fear death and pretend it doesn’t exist. Yes, we may deny it and live as if we were immortal, but death is always there.

Indeed, death is natural.

In fact, we are part of a whole. We are living beings, and as we are alive, we must die.

So it’s high time we repeated this to ourselves, over and over again, in a soothing, calming voice, breathing as this truth makes its way into our hearts and minds.

Then it’s up to us to decide what we want to do with this time of life that’s offered to us day after day.

In fact, we don’t decide to be born and we don’t decide to die. That’s just the way it is. But we can decide what we want to do with the time we’re given.

In other words, it’s essential to decide to see the chance of being alive behind the fatality of death.

5 – Death is scary, and that’s normal

Finally, yes, fear is scary, and it’s perfectly normal.

In fact, it’s normal to be afraid of something you don’t know, something you haven’t experienced yet.

In fact, every day, life throws us situations that frighten us, situations we’ve never experienced before.

And, if we look closely, in the past we’ve already overcome so many of our fears, one by one.

So we’ll overcome the fear of death too, little by little, day by day.

To be alive is above all to accept that this wonderful gift will be taken away from us, perhaps even without notice.

In fact, being alive means learning to stop resisting what scares us, holding on to our fears and even identifying with them.

Indeed, it’s essential to understand that we are more than our fears, that they don’t define us and that they are not our enemies.

Yes, our fears bring to light what we need to learn, with patience and kindness. One day at a time.

In other words, if you’re afraid of death, I wholeheartedly invite you to understand that it’s perfectly normal. Besides, you’re not the only one who’s afraid. In fact, in a way, we’re all afraid.

Then, your job in this life is to live in spite of it. Better still, to live thanks to that fear.

Ask yourself: what do you want to experience in this time you’ve been given? What do you want to tell and remember on your deathbed?

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover What if happiness was above all a way of seeing things?
Discover How to overcome your fears: 10 powerful exercises

I recommend this inspiring book:

The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker

The author explores the human fear of mortality and how individuals cope with the inevitability of death. Drawing on psychology, philosophy and anthropology, Becker argues that the fear of death influences human behavior and shapes cultural, religious and personal beliefs. The book explores the psychological mechanisms of denial and the search for symbolic immortality, offering a profound insight into the complex relationship between the fear of death and the human experience.

Despite some of Becker’s conclusions with which I may not agree, this book is the best work on human nature I know. I must warn you, however, that after reading it carefully, you will not only change your outlook on life and your relationships with your peers, but you will also become sadder… but wiser nonetheless.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself