To embrace death and dying is a tall order for many. Fear of pain, suffering, and the unknown; reigns supreme over the thoughts of those with death anxiety. Whether one's level of worry is mild, moderate, or severe, it debilitates daily living for many. Here you'll find ways to, gently and lightheartedly, face your own fears and embrace death and dying.
Instructions
1. Begin your journey to embrace death and dying by seeing the resources below after reading this article. There you will find a link to a wonderful YouTube clip from the movie, "What Dreams May Come", starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Robin Williams. It is a movie who's premise is that of a belief in the afterlife. You may prefer to simply rent the movie. You also may find that it totally changes your perspective on the concept of death and why you believe what you do about the dying process.
2. Understand the basic concept of death; which is that everything that has a beginning, also has an ending. Begin to wrap your mind around this concept with the life cycle of a maple leaf: from a bud on a branch, to a new green leaf, to drying shades of gold, red, and orange as it drifts to the ground to become part of the Earth once more.
3. To fully embrace death and dying; you must take a role in another person's process to become more comfortable. Inevitably, we all will know someone who will die. Many people avoid funerals or other memorial services as if they can also avoid death itself. When you feel uncomfortable with someone who is grieving and you don't know what to say; the best thing to do might be to just offer a gentle, heartfelt hug.
4. Examine your beliefs. Is God, or belief in a higher power, a part of that? Perhaps, you believe in the afterlife because of the many near death experiences you've read, or heard, about. I encourage you to read the article that accompanies the YouTube video of "What Dreams May Come". It may just help you to soften your fearful thoughts on death and dying and question personal beliefs that you've learned through time.
5. Read about other cultures and their beliefs and customs regarding death and dying. Many take a very non-emotional, and spiritual, view that can help you embrace the concept and the process.
6. Embrace death and dying by thinking of the process of life as a "long vacation". We're so anxious to plan our trip that we can hardly contain ourselves. Then while we're at our destination, we have good times and not so good times ! Finally, towards the end of our vacation, we decide that though we've had a wonderful time.....we're ready to go home.
