One way I deal with stress, struggles, and conflicts. It can probably work for everyone.

I think of death.

There — straight to the point.

Happy New Year!

Yes, I think of death. My death, and other people’s death. Not in a gloomy way but in a way that makes me embrace the mantra “this too shall pass”.

Let’s say I suffer a rejection or someone criticizes me in a hurtful way. No matter what motivational speakers say, no matter how thick-skinned you are, most rejections are painful, even if temporarily. During these moments I think of death in one of several ways. I think about the party on the other side (the one that rejected or scolded me) dying. Not in an evil “Die motherfucker!” way but maybe there is some of that element. My sentiment is along these lines: your power over me at this moment will not last forever; there will come a time — it will come absolutely inevitably — when you will die; your life is fragile, like everyone’s else is, like mine, and you will die; maybe before I will; I plan to live a long life. Of course, I can’t guarantee that I myself won’t get hit by a car tomorrow! Still, I have the tendency to think that I will outlive people. It’s a strange and nice element of my self-confidence!

But I think about my own death too, especially when I contemplate doing something risky. Risky usually means failing in a visible (to your family or friends way) or facing the pain of being rejected by someone. If I have time to reflect on this…