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death
January 2008 
Happier Facing Death?
Posted on Nov 4th, 2007
by 
J.K.
J.K.
A new study in the November issue of Psychological Science makes the unexpected observation that when people are asked to consider the occasion of their own demise, they actually become happier. The researchers say it’s a kind of psychological immune response — that when faced with thoughts of our own death, our brains automatically cope with the conscious feelings of distress by unconsciously seeking out and triggering happy feelings.
As I read about the study I couldn’t help thinking about my own experience. Five years ago I reported to the emergency room feeling badly but believing that I had nothing more than the flu. You might imagine my surprise and shock when the doctors told me they suspected I had less than three hours to live — that my liver was shutting down rapidly, but in imagining the shock you would be incorrect. There was no jolt, no bargaining, no fear. I honestly don't think I even took a deep breath. I just sat there, thought about my idea of consciousness, which was pretty undeveloped at the time, considered the non-physicalness of it all — that it was something you couldn’t actually touch, and found a calm but lucid peace.
Fortunately, I proved the doctors wrong by recovering completely, but I’ll never forget the timelessness that came in the moment I really received the news.
- Time Magazine
Access: Public
great story!
jed mckenna talks about this in his new book.
reminds me of this quote:
“For any culture which is primarily concerned with meaning, the study
of death - the only certainty that life holds for us - must be central,
for an understanding of death is the key to liberation in life.”
~Stanislov Grof
thanks for the article
Hi, cree. Thanks for the quote and also for the information about Jed McKenna. I've had The Damnedest Thing high on my Amazon wish list for some time but I just haven't gotten around to ordering it.
Do you think there's any benefit to reading them in a certain order? If not, I may just opt for his new book. It sounds like something I'd really like.
I too experienced this affect when my doctor came in and said, “you have bone cancer, it's spreading, and you have maybe 6 months to live.” I thought I was hearing things so I made him repeat it. He said it again and then just looked at me. I felt my whole being smile from the inside out. I told him, “Gee Doc…I don't feel like I am dying, but if that changes I'll let you all know.” That was 17 years ago. I never felt fear about dying…I just felt like it wasn't true for me at that time…I'm gonna croak one day…but not today. That's what I told myself…Great post, and I am soooo glad you are still here with us!
Heather, your art is beautiful!
Jk ~
Do you think there's any benefit to reading them in a certain order? If not, I may just opt for his new book. It sounds like something I'd really like.
From reading your profile and some of your posts, I agree. I think you would
like these books.
I'm very glad I read them in order. I'd reccommend it.
All 3 are rolicking good reads imo. And they build upon
eachother.
I don't know what they cost at Amazon, but I'm pretty sure
you can order the 3 together from Wisefool Press and get
25% off. Someone told me that the e-books come with extra
material also, but I'm not an e-book fan. (Gimme a bath tub
and a good pinot! ; )
cree
Loved your story, Heather. Do you know the song Live Like You Were Dying? For me, the next year was very much like that. Although I never felt the fear, it turned my life around. I really did go skydiving, I really did head west, and I really did ride a bull named Fu Manchu.
There's a lot of metaphor in that last one, but it paints a pretty good picture..
And thanks again for the info, cree. I just started a book by Gopi Krishna so I won't be getting to McKenna immediately but I'm carving him in for my next read. I've already read quite a few reviews of his stuff so I'm sure I'll like it.
Cheers! :)
I'm glad the doctors were wrong. When my grandmother found our she was dying she said “I feel so calm about this. I thought I'd be frantic, but I'm not at all.” I was young and didn't understand, but I think I do now.
Thanks,
Albert
Hi, Albert. I'm reminded of of the book On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. I haven't read it, but I've read a good bit about it. As I understand, she traces the steps of ego defeat through four stages: denial, bargaining, anger, the acceptance, and adds that terminally ill patients reach a state of peace by the fourth stage and actually seem to have a glow about them.
The revelation for me during my experience and perhaps the one found by your grandmother too is that for some that peace can come in an instant. In fact, I suspect that happens for a lot of people, but they're just not here to tell us about it. This particular study seems to support that so I thought it made an interesting read. And who knows? Pointing to it might be one way to comfort family members who have survived a loved one's sudden and unexpected death.
It's a difficult subject, but perhaps some pretty good news.. :)