Memento Mori: The Useful Reminder We All Desperately Need

While contributing to a recent article on the effect of bereavement on performance in sport I was reminded of this oft repeated quote by Benjamin Franklin, “in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.”

Life is full of so many unknowns. Yet, one of the few things we can be certain of, death, is so rarely discussed. How can confronting our own mortality actually lead to a life well lived?

‘Memento Mori’ is a Latin phrase meaning ‘remember you must die.’ It’s a powerful concept, embedded in ancient Stoic philosophy. It encourages us to reflect on our mortality.

But why would we want to reflect on our mortality? At first glance, that might seem scary or macabre. For the Stoics, however, this reflection inspired individuals to lead more authentic and fulfilling lives.

Regularly contemplating the fact that life is finite can help us to live more deliberately… to live on purpose, with purpose.