How can one cope with...?

Question

the thought of one day not existing?

Seriously.

The word, "religion", is not the kind of answer I'm looking for. I don't want to know how humans have coped with this idea. I want to know how you cope with this idea. Or, if you even actually believe that one day you cease to exist?

Does anyone else find this thought utterly unbearable?

Answer 1

To be honest, it doesn't really bother me (and others probably) because I don't think about it much. I focus on today and what I have now rather than what comes after- I'll deal with that when I get there.

I don't think you have to be religious to see death as something other than just ceasing to exist. You don't have to necessarily believe in a god or higher power to believe that after death there is some other plane of existence. It could be reincarnation or heaven or some idea like that- we don't know. We won't know until it happens, and then it won't even really matter to us.

I'm sorry I can't really give you a straight answer. Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss, M.D., sort of helped me define my own beliefs, but to each his/her own, really.

I hope you can become less frightened of the idea though, or redefine your view of the "afterlife" or what have you to be more comofrtable with it- just try to not let it affect your daily life.

Answer 2

I suppose I am the opposite. I sometimes cannot cope with the idea of not ever not existing. I enjoy life. But, if ever I feel, "I've have enough. I'm done," that an end can be put to it.

If it comforts you, while the electro-chemical process that give you self-awareness may cease, the atomic matter that is you will still remain. Perhaps part of you will become a carrot that will be eaten by a rabbit, where part of that will be absorbed into the rabbit, thus making you part of the rabbit. Everything is one giant living blob of existence. So, you really never stop existing.

Answer 3

Stop worrying sweetie! You never cease to exist. You just change form. I can't really go into too much more detail without "mentioning religion" (afterlife Heaven etc).

I don't need to "cope" with it myself. It doesn't bother me. It's a given. It doesn't worry me. I'm not preoccupied with death. I know it's not the end anyway, just a change. The being inside me, my soul, is eternal. I will just shed this body when it's time. I just live my life. Death isn't on my mind. It doesn't frighten me.

Enjoy your life. Live every day to the fullest. Don't waste it by worrying about things that are in the distant future. Life is a cycle from birth to death to rebirth. Just surrender to it. You can not control it. There's no point worrying about it. We all go through it. It is the natural order of things. Find peace within yourself. You, the being inside you, will never cease to exist. Even after death, you will be remembered, loved. You will be remembered by those that knew you and will be missed & your spirit will live on, in some form in the afterlife (whether you believe in Heaven or reincarnation)...

Take care. Don't worry, be happy! :)

Answer 4

What we call a universe is actually an
energy field that recycles pieces of energy
known as quarks.

There is no real beginning, Big Bang or
otherwise. Any Big Bang is just a point in
a cycle.

We show up from time to time because
we are part of the energy. Our genetic
frequencies belong to us. This awareness
of life is the only thing we can really call
our own.

Today's science is getting very interesting,
real fast.
Recent studies have shown a strong
possibility that we are actually a constant with
two stages: particle and quantum.
It's the time and space that comes and goes.

How this will all play out is anybody's guess.
One truth requires no guess work.
.
Hope Springs Eternal.

Answer 5

How do you cope? By making the most out of your life now.

You have to face the fact that no matter what, you're gonna die. And if you're thinking about this fact too much, you need to take up an activity of some sort. Something like.. bungee jumping would be satisfactory.

But seriously, the idea of non-existence shouldn't bother you - when you're gone.. you're gone. So, until then, occupy your time with everything and anything... Sometimes, even nothing can be good.

As for religion -- that's a cop-out and for those who are waiting to die so that they can get their wonderful afterlife.. that's just a waste of life to me. I can't be bothered by such trivial things.

Carpe Diem.

Answer 6

for me, non-existance isn't an issue. I figure that if I'm worried about one day not existing anymore, then there's something I need to be doing to make sure that I don't fear the day when I no longer exist.

Sure, I don't like the idea of getting to non-existance. But the idea of never having to worry about a thing again gets more and more alluring the longer I live. So I don't let it bother me.

We all have a day where we'll die, medical immortality aside. I know that I won't choose immortality, should it be offered. I want to live my life as best I can, and then never have to worry about the repurcussions ever again. :-)

I hope you find your answer somewhere in all of ours. :-)

Answer 7

I am not giving a religious answer, but you might consider it one. The reason I am saying this is because Christianity is a relationship with Christ rather than a religion.

Having said that, I know that one day I will be absent from this body and present with the Lord. That is how I cope with the uncertainty of this life. You never know when your time to die is, but God knows. He numbered our days before we were even born. So when I find myself getting fearful or afraid I can turn in faith to Jesus. He shed His blood on the cross so that those who believe in Him can spend eternity with God in heaven. The alternative isn't just "not existing" it is being cast away from His presence forever.

I have learned this through many years of bible study. If you are interested in learning more about this feel free to email me.

I hope this helps.
Sincerely, Redeemed

Answer 8

It bothers me immensely, so - cowardly though it probably is - I deal by just not thinking about it. It's going to happen no matter what I do, that's inescapable, so I just remind myself that a) once it happens I won't be around to worry about it anymore and - more importantly b) in the meantime it would be a sheer and utter -waste- for me to spoil what time I do have worrying about it. Not to be an utter goob but I -try-, at least, to relish life while I can ... works for me =)

Answer 9

I don't know your age, but there comes a time in life when you go out the door with no intention of coming back. This is the attitude to have with not existing.

Answer 10

realize that some day you will be laying in the ground or some form of something in the world. Try to make a legacy. Even if it only is raising your kids to be succesful and happy or whether it is helping nature.