Finding Joy in Facing Death

We’re all dying. That can be unsettling, yet it’s an undeniable truth that we all share. Recently, a dear friend of mine found out she has terminal stage 4 cancer. A lot of people are shocked when they hear such a diagnosis. Faced with such a diagnosis, many grapple with denial or anger, “Why me?”

However, death is knocking on everyone’s door. I could leave my body, that is, “die” before my friend who has cancer. No matter how healthy we may be living, none of us has a guarantee to live a long time in these bodies. Facing and accepting the reality that one day our bodies will die allows us to consider what is of real importance, and can help us find actual meaning and joy in life.

Time is so precious

When faced with a terminal illness, many people come to realize how money is not the most important thing. Recently a famous musician, Phil Rudd from New Zealand expressed how he would give up everything he had- fame, money, properties, etc., if he could give his best friend more time.

We leave behind all material things. Even famous people are soon forgotten. I’m not anti money or economic development. But I think that we all need to reconsider what is of real importance.

Money can’t buy time. Facing death makes us face all the hard questions like: What is important to me in life? Is the life I am living meaningful? What is the purpose of my life? Who am I really? Do I know what true happiness is? Is this world really my home? And seeking out the answers to these questions can only bring good into our lives. Facing death and finding answers on how to overcome the fear of death and death itself brings light into our lives, just like how the sun brings warmth and light into each day.

Inner Happiness and Joy

When I was younger I was always afraid of dying. I experienced death anxiety way before anyone had coined up the term. As a 4 year old I was constantly afraid of dying, or that my parents or siblings would die.

Taking up a daily spiritual practice has brought me so much peace and inner happiness and joy. It’s a peace and happiness that I know I can turn to, that fills me no matter what challenge I am faced with. If a doctor told me tomorrow I am dying of cancer and had a few days or weeks to live, I know where to find the comfort and joy. Death, where is your sting? And this is a happiness and joy that I believe every single person- every living being, deserves to experience.

Refusing to face death or talk about death and dying deprives us of experiencing this deep inner happiness and joy.

Please let me know if you are interested in learning this daily spiritual practice.

Wishing you the best!