This article is written by Ramanuj Mukherjee, CEO, LawSikho.

Listen, I know nobody wants to talk about or think about death.

However, fear of death has a deep, unconscious impact on our psychology at a very primary level. And you can use it to your advantage!

However, if you are squeamish or uncomfortable to think about death, skip this mail. I will see you tomorrow.

Now that we have that out of our way, let’s jump right in. Treat this as a thought experiment.

What if you died today? Imagine yourself dead. Suddenly, unexpectedly, without any warning, let’s imagine that you have died. There is no pain involved. You are still able to reflect back and think about yourself just like you do now.

But you have no future to worry about. Your life is over.

Close your eyes and imagine it. Take a few deep breaths. How does it feel? Let it sink in.

Death has a way of separating the important from unimportant. Suddenly, you will stop bothering about who in your college batch is living in the biggest house, driving the biggest car or taking home the biggest salary. Hopefully, all that will stop being of importance when you have died.

I don’t think you will worry any more about what mundane shit you would have done next weekend or the unfinished office work on your desk. Nor will you bother to think about the tiny failures that everybody encounters every day and give a lot of importance to.

However, you may have regrets; of things, you always wanted to do but never got around to doing.

What would be your 3 worst regrets?

You may be sad about some unfinished business. What are the things you regret leaving unfinished? What would you wish that you had completed?

Are you glad about some of the things you have already done? What are these things? Given another chance would you do more of it?

Who are the people you wish you didn’t give space to in your life? Who are the people you wish you spent a lot more time with?

Are there any major decisions and indecisions that you regret?

Do you wish you were more adventurous, took more risk, grasped the opportunities that you have let pass by?

Would you do things differently, if given another chance?

Well, you think about yourself, take some time and write down your answers. I assure you that you will not regret doing this exercise. It will help you to see through the clutter and put your life’s priorities straight.

When people face almost certain death and then get saved, they often turn their life around and start living a more authentic life. Take this doctor for example. After surviving a near death situation he became a legendary rapper in his 60s, and unthinkable feat. The close shave with death made it clear to him what was his real priority in life, and he didn’t want to die without seeing that turn into reality.

That kind of clarity gives you immense power to take massive action.

Here is someone who faced imminent death, had 90 days to live through the expectation of death and then survived. It changed his life. It is worth reading it, especially because it will make you think.

I have faced near death experiences a few times myself. What it did for me was that it ended fear, because I am a dead man walking around on borrowed time. What am I afraid of anymore?

Judgment, poverty, failure, risks – nothing compares to death. Once you have embraced and accepted death, everything pales in comparison.

You want to live your life in celebration, with the people you love, doing the things you want to do – and you push your boundaries because you want to make the best of the time you have.

I don’t know how long life will last, because every instance of near death experience for me was completely out of the blue, without any warning, and my life being saved was as unlikely as the happening of it.

So I live under the shadow of death, and I want to make the best of every single day I live.

There is no patience to put up with less than the best. No space for putting up with toxic people, and no question of being satisfied with mediocre goals.

I want to burn bright before the darkness really comes. This is all we have.

What about you? Are you postponing your dreams?

You don’t have time. I cannot bear the thought of whiling away my time. I want more from every hour, from every second, and I am not afraid to ask for it. I don’t fear judgment, I don’t fear competition, I don’t tire out because who wants to rest when life is so amazing, so full of possibilities, and there is so much to do and experience.

I want to spend every hour with the people I love, for the causes that matter to me, with the people I want to spend my time with, learning the skills I want to learn, making myself better and looking back –  wondering where I was and where I have come.

What about you?

Whatever you are thinking, comment and let me know.