The Law of Mortality
Confronting Death
The Law of Mortality is about confronting and accepting the reality of death to find purpose and urgency in life. By continually meditating on our common mortality, we can fill ourselves with a sense of purpose and urgency to realize our goals. This framework helps us to manage setbacks, separations, and crises in life by giving us a sense of proportion and what really matters.
- Confronting death gives us a sense of purpose and urgency in life.
- Meditating on mortality helps us to manage setbacks and crises.
- Accepting our common mortality connects us to others and gives us a sense of proportion.
- Confront Your MortalityTake time to reflect on your own mortality and the mortality of those around you. Consider how this reality affects your priorities and goals.Pro tipUse journaling or meditation to help you confront your mortality.WarningAvoid becoming overly pessimistic or fearful of death.
- Find Purpose and UrgencyUse the awareness of your mortality to find purpose and urgency in your life. Set goals and priorities that align with your values and aspirations.Pro tipBreak down large goals into smaller, manageable tasks to help you stay focused.WarningAvoid procrastination and distractions that can derail your progress.
- Cultivate a Sense of ProportionUse the awareness of your mortality to cultivate a sense of proportion and what really matters in life. Let go of trivial concerns and focus on what is truly important.Pro tipPractice gratitude and appreciation for the time you have.WarningAvoid getting caught up in unnecessary drama or conflicts.
After the death of her father, Mary Flannery O'Connor found a new sense of purpose and urgency in her life. She became more focused on her writing and determined to make the most of the time she had.
Steve Jobs' experience with mortality after being diagnosed with cancer led him to re-evaluate his priorities and focus on what was truly important to him.
This framework is inspired by the story of Mary Flannery O'Connor, who after the death of her father, found a new sense of purpose and urgency in her life. She became more focused on her writing and determined to make the most of the time she had.