Confronting the Fear of Death (Memento Mori)

"Do you then ponder how the supreme of human evils, the surest mark of the base and cowardly, is not death, but the fear of death?" - Epictetus

Question

• What situations trigger your fear of death? Do they revolve around the act of dying, or the loss of life itself?

• Does this fear of death hold you back from fully living?

• How might accepting our mortality help you live more intentionally?
  
  

Simple Explanation The Stoics believed that wasting energy on things outside our control, like death, is pointless. True courage lies in focusing on how we live our lives, not fixating on the inevitable end.

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Deep Dive Epictetus urges us to examine our values. Seneca, in his Letters from a Stoic, reminds us, "It is not death that a man should fear, but rather he should fear never beginning to live." Stoics advocate for living virtuously – cultivating courage, wisdom, justice, and moderation. It's in aligning our actions with these virtues that we find tranquility in the face of the unknown.

Applicable Situations

• Experiencing severe anxiety about illness and mortality.

• Putting off your dreams due to fear of a limited lifespan.

• Struggling with the loss of a loved one.

Action Items

• Practice mindfulness to focus on the present moment.

• List what truly matters to you, and live accordingly.

• Reflect on your fears surrounding death – journaling can help.
  
  

Modern Connections Movies like Dead Poets Society explore the theme of 'seizing the day' in the face of mortality. We see this Stoic sentiment in social movements that emphasize living with purpose, and even medical professionals who work in palliative care, helping patients approach death with acceptance and dignity.

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