Finding Ways To Steer Clear Of The Fear Of The Reaper
Despite a lot of countries having low crime rates, violence in populated areas being very minimal, and the other less than ideal elements of society stamped out, people are exposed to a lot of death in their lives. When you read the news or turn on the TV, you will often find stories about horrible events from around the world. Along with this, it can be hard not to think about this sort of subject, even when it is seen as a little morbid. To help you out with this, this post will be giving you the tools you need to keep this sort of thought from bothering you, as well as some advice to keep your mind on the right track.
To begin, it’s time to change the way you think about life and death. For a lot of people, the morbid side of life is something best left ignored, and isn’t a suitable topic of normal conversation. This sort of repression can be very damaging, though. Instead of helping you to come to terms with the idea of the end, it will make it into something much more mysterious, often making it scary in the process. In a handful of cultures around the world, this part of life is celebrated, and those that have passed are always on people’s minds. This is often a much healthier way to deal with doom.
Of course, achieving the goal above isn’t always the easiest task. A lot of people find philosophy to be very dull, and won’t want to spend their time introspecting about their life, making it hard to find the time to change your perspective. While you shouldn’t dwell on it, exploring the idea of what happens when you die is a good way to come to terms with it. This is best handled in a controlled environment, with discussion boards and study sessions online being great places to learn what other people think about this subject.
Putting the two ideas above into action isn’t going to be an easy task. In fact, for a lot of people, this sort of change will come naturally once some other work has been done, and this is what the rest of this post is going to cover. There are loads of different ways to take away the fear of the unknown. Below, you can find some examples of the sort of action you can take when you’re trying to build a healthy relationship with the idea of death. Of course, though, along with this, you should also think about the way your mind works, and how that could impact your results.
Learning: There are loads of subjects out there which can give you a better understanding of life and death, without ever having to talk about them. A gerontology degree, for example, will teach you about the process which humans go through as they age, enabling you to understand why a person can’t live forever. For some, having this sort of knowledge will bring a lot of comfort, but it will be worth doing plenty of research to make sure that you’re choosing the right option for you if you go down this route.
Exposure: If you’re ready for the challenge, facing your fears head-on may help you confront your thoughts and emotions and regain control. As you learn more about the natural process of death, you may also find it helpful to learn more and expose yourself to associated factors.
For instance, you can research funeral rites and how they are done in various contexts and cultures. In many parts of the world, funerals involve religious ceremonies that aim to help the spirit of the departed attain absolution from sins and eternal peace. Meanwhile, funerals are also held to celebrate one’s life and its ending, which is done by commemorating the deceased and how they touched other people’s lives in their unique way.
Learning more about the cultural and spiritual significance of funeral rites and other traditions relevant to death can be an effective emotional release or cathartic activity for those confronting their fear of the inevitable end of life. Furthermore, exposing yourself to something that triggers strong emotions can help you understand the reason behind such a response and, in effect, find healthy ways to cope or heal.
Discussion: While having large-scale discussions can be very powerful, nothing is quite as comforting as talking to someone you know and trust. Family members can provide a lot of support when you’re battling with the idea of your own mortality. Having been through this themselves, the older people you know will have loads of tips, tricks, and wisdom to share when it comes to death. Sometimes, even hearing your own ideas out loud can also be enough to make you feel better about the whole thing.
If you need more time to confront your thoughts about death before you can confidently share them with others, why not try journaling? Writing down your thoughts can help you understand yourself better and identify any questions you may have about death. At times, fear comes from a lack of understanding or misconceptions, and expressing your thoughts about death through writing may help you find the answers that you need.
Take Action: Unless you have an accident at some point, you are in a great position of control over your body, and will be able to influence the amount of time it lasts for. Plenty of exercise and good diet throughout your life will almost always buy some extra time. Being unfit, though, will make a lot of people feel as though they are living on the edge, and this will only get harder to sort out as you get older. Joining a gym is a great place to start, but it will be worth finding ways to integrate exercise into your life in ways which you enjoy if you want to make it last.
Get Checked: Following on from the section above, knowing that your body is in good condition is a great way to avoid worrying about it. To help you out with this, a doctor can provide a lot of support when it comes to general health. They will be able to test things like your fitness and body mass index, giving you a clear idea of the work which you should be doing to improve your future. Of course, with any luck, you’ll find that you don’t have anything to worry about at all.
Distractions: In reality, one of the best ways to avoid the fear of death is simply not thinking about it. While you’re alive, the biggest concerns on your mind should revolve around how you will be using the time you have. Some people will travel, some will study, and others will work at their career; it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re enjoying life. It will be a lot harder to think about the time after you’re gone if you’re having a ball while you’re here, and this is worth keeping in mind at all times.
With all of this in mind, it should be a lot easier to draw your focus away from the darker side of life. You may not think about this sort of thing all the time, and it’s likely that death is one of the rarer subjects on your mind. A lot of people live in fear of the reaper, though, and this is a shame, as it simply doesn’t have to be this way, especially in the modern world.