Striving towards Excellence

-Karthik Gurumurthy

I've been thinking a lot about how conquering my fear of death actually leads to a richer life. It's not just about accepting the inevitable—it's about transforming how I live each day.

I love that quote I read: "Love is stronger than death." No matter how final death seems, it can't separate us from love or erase our memories. Life ultimately wins that battle. And as Sri Chinmoy put it, "Death is not the end. Death is the road. Life is the traveler and the soul is the guide."

Research actually backs this up. People with religious beliefs often have a more positive outlook on death, probably because religion helps us see beyond the event itself. For deeply religious folks like monks, death isn't feared but embraced as a transition to something better.

Whether religious or not, acknowledging death as part of life's natural cycle helps take the weight off my shoulders. It's liberating to realize I can't change the fact that I'll die someday—it removes the burden of responsibility from my hands and lets me focus on living. 

When I was in fourth grade, I met with a major accident. It would have ended my life but somehow because of someone's Prayers and Blessings I survived the car accident.   In Tamil we aptly  say, "கிடைச்ச வரைக்கும் ஆதாயம்" Whatever I have gotten is a bonus. 

I've found that living fully is the best antidote to death anxiety. When I fill my days with happiness, meaningful relationships, and purpose, death becomes less scary. I don't want to hide away in fear—I want to live without regrets, knowing I did my absolute best with the time I had.

Meditation has been another powerful tool. It's teaching me to accept life completely—both the good and the bad—with mental discipline that helps me grow as a person.

I'm trying to maintain an optimistic outlook since research shows optimists have better health outcomes than pessimists. Plus, I try to remember that death serves a purpose in nature's grand design—keeping the world renewed and, for those suffering, offering release from pain.

Taking care of my health, cultivating hobbies like gardening and volunteer work, and surrounding myself with understanding companions helps keep my mind peacefully occupied instead of worrying about the inevitable.

I want to develop the compassion and inner peace that will let me face my end without regrets or grievances. As that Persian saying goes, when death comes to a person of faith, they have a smile on their face. That's how I hope to meet it—with tranquility and acceptance, whenever my time comes.