live as if you’re already dead

“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly. What doesn’t transmit light creates its own darkness.”

― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

A philosopher-warrior lives as if he/she is already dead. When you think that you have no life left at all, every moment that you get moving forward is a bonus. You live life fully, deeply, and intentionally, and the previous tendency to waste time is completely obliterated. You start viewing life itself from a whole new perspective and it becomes nothing short of a miracle. As a result, you develop gratitude towards everything, both good and bad, and make sure you put the “extra time” on the planet that you have been bestowed with to good use.

Also, since your life is over and you have nothing to lose, now you can carry on with a calm mind and an open heart. Because fear no longer depletes your energy, you’re able to direct that freed-up energy towards meaningful pursuits. You start living each moment with renewed vigor and vitality. 

By living your life as if it has already ended, you let go of the superfluous and trivial, and develop a sense of urgency that propels you to live intensely in the moment. You start focusing on things and people that matter the most and prioritize them over everything else. This simple but powerful shift in your thinking can work wonders and bring incredible positive changes, both in you and your life.