Last Memories Before Death, A Better Way To Ask For Favors, How To Be Happier, & More
Article Round-Up: 11.27.22
Enjoy this week’s curated list of articles, podcasts, and more from the web:
Featured Thoughts:
Do We Replay Happy Memories Just Before Our Death?
Takeaway: Some new data indicates that brain activation responsible for memory recall becomes active in the moments leading up to death, as well as for as long as thirty seconds after the heart stops beating.
While it’s impossible to tell exactly what memories are being recalled, this life-flashing-before-your-eyes phenomenon is shared by many who have had near-death experiences.
I’d certainly like to think we get one last showing of our greatest hits in the final moments of our life. But then I wonder, why do we need to wait until then?
Why cant we re-experience these fond memories throughout all of our life?
No one likes to think bad thoughts, but might it be occasionally useful to ponder questions like:
“What would I miss most if this person were no longer in my life?”
“What would I regret not doing when fear was no longer a factor?”
“What sacrifices might I be making today that I will regret later on?”
Often, the answers are not always what we expect.
While some of these questions might be uncomfortable to think about, is it possible that considering our answers might impact how we live our life today, tomorrow, and in each moment leading up to our death?
Read the original research study here.
“If You Want Something From Someone, You Must Do This First”
Takeaway: The thesis of this article is my life rule #17: Always Provide Value.
In the article, the author (Feifer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur Magazine) takes us through an email he received asking to be a guest on his podcast. While cleverly written, it fell short in a number of ways. Mainly, it subtly asked Feifer to do all the work.
The hopeful guest asked for something before he gave anything in return.
This is where most people have it backward. To maximize your chances of working cooperatively with others, especially others that have something you need (resources, access, exposure, etc.), then you need to provide value to give them a reason to want to work with you.
You have to give before you get. So start giving.
“How To Be Happier Without Really Trying”
Takeaway: This article takes a look at the philosophy of Epicurus, a Greek philosopher who believed the purpose of life was pleasure. But not just any and all pleasure. He distinguished between three types:
Necessity: Things like free time, friendship, love, etc.
Extravagant: Expensive clothes, fancy meals, 5-star resorts. You know, that sort of thing. Described as, “necessary pleasures taken to the limit.”
Corrosive: Things that have no end. Fame, popularity, wealth, beauty, etc.
As the names imply, Epicurus believed everyone should strive for the necessary pleasures. The more the better.
Extravagant pleasures are fine, but too much emphasis on them might become less fine.
And, as you might guess, the corrosive pleasures should be avoided at all costs. these are most likely to end in sacrificing the necessary pleasures in pursuit of an unattainable goal. And that ain’t pleasurable.
The challenge is how easily we get our wires crossed and focus on the wrong types of pleasure. Might you be guilty of this?
“How To Make Others Feel Significant”
Takeaway: It’s never a bad time to share your appreciation toward the meaningful people in your life. When you have a positive thought about someone, verbally share it with them. All to often, we think good things about people but those comments live forever locked away in our mind.
Think of the opposite of the saying, “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”
If you have something good to say, say it!