Every year, the Chapman University Survey of American Fears (CSAF) is released, and it reveals the ten biggest fears that people in the U.S. have at any given time. The 2022 CSAF survey discovered that Americans are currently fearful of things like corrupt government officials, other countries like Russia using nuclear weapons, the threat of World War 3, and, of course, an economic collapse within the country and, to a larger degree, the world.

But this survey also found that one of the top fears in the U.S., for yet another year, is “people I love dying.” Many Americans spend their fair share of time thinking about both their own deaths and the deaths of those they love. In some cases, it can even lead to them suffering from what is called death anxiety. It's a condition that can cause a person to become overwhelmed and even obsessed with the thought of death.

If you suspect you might be suffering from death anxiety, it would be worth speaking with a professional about it. If, however, you're simply someone who worries about either your own death or the deaths of loved ones from time to time, you should remind yourself that reverence for death can actually be a good thing. In fact, you could argue that reverence for death is reverence for life. Here are several reasons why this is true.

 

Provides a True Appreciation for Life

According to a recent Gallup poll, more than 80% of Americans say they're happy with the way their personal lives are going. This is great news when you consider everything that people have had to deal with over the last few years. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the financial issues that have plagued many people thanks to inflation, it would have been easy for everyone in this country to fall into a state of unhappiness with their lives.

There are, of course, going to be times when you might lose your zeal for life and fail to appreciate it like you perhaps should. Having a reverence for death can help to change this. When you think about the fact that you and those around you will all have to face death one day, it might help you snap out of your tough times so that you can get back to appreciating everything you have to live for. It might help make you more grateful for the people you have in your life and the things that make your life worth living. This reverence for life can come about when you have a reverence for death.

 

Gives Life More Meaning

“What is the meaning of life?” is a question philosophers have been trying to answer for centuries now. But it's also a question that, unfortunately, seems to impossible for anyone to answer, no matter how much time they might spend thinking about it or how much research they do on the subject. The meaning of life is something that has eluded humanity for thousands of years, and we appear to be no closer to answering it today.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing, though, as you could make the argument that the meaning of life is to try to figure out what gives your life meaning. One good way to get to the bottom of this is by showing a reverence for death and understanding that your time on earth isn't going to last forever. When you look at things like this, it'll help you decide what you want your life to mean to you. You'll have a much easier time prioritizing all the things you have going on when you acknowledge death and show a healthy respect for it without letting it consume you.

 

Shows the Overall Importance of Life

There are more than 67 million people who die all across the planet each year. Some of them die of old age, while others die just minutes after they're born. Some deaths give relief and peace to the person and their loved ones while other die tragically. Death is all around every one of us, even if people don't always want to think about it.

When you show the proper reverence for death, it'll help to highlight the overall importance of life on a global level. Even though people do die every year, the world keeps turning and the planet's population keeps growing as people choose to persevere rather than letting death get the best of them.

It's very easy to take life for granted on a daily basis when you don't always demonstrate reverence for death and understand the impact that it's having on both you and others. When you're able to put more of an emphasis on this reverence for death, it should let the importance of life shine through.

 

Reduces the Fear of Death

Many people worry about their own deaths at least a little every now and then. It's only natural to be fearful of the unknown and to be concerned about what might happen to you after you die. But to a much larger degree, people often worry about the deaths of their family members, friends, and even people like their neighbors. They wonder how they're possibly going to continue living without having these important people in their lives.

But here's the thing: When you have reverence for death, that alone can help you appreciate the time you have with your loved ones. You'll be able to cherish both the big and small moments with them when you have an understanding that death is on the horizon. Rather than worrying about what you're going to do when a loved one dies, you'll find yourself getting lost in the moments you're able to share with them. And when your days with them are eventually numbered and you know you're not going to be able to share those moments anymore, you'll look back on them fondly and be glad you didn't spend all your time fretting about what was going to happen when they died. It'll put a smile on your face and help you heal.

You'll also find that you'll want to celebrate your loved ones when they die as opposed to spending all of your time regretting the fact that you didn't cherish them more when they were still alive. You'll be able to have them buried in cemeteries or place their cremated remains into custom urns and know their legacies will live on through you and all the other people they were able to touch throughout their lives.

 

Start Showing More Reverence for Death

Showing reverence for death isn't always easy. Some people really struggle with the idea of letting their loved ones go and can't bear the thought of them dying and leaving them behind. These people will sometimes spend years mourning the deaths of their loved ones, and in some instances, they won't ever truly be able to move on with their lives.

But as you've seen here, showing reverence for death is, in a way, showing reverence for life. You'll be able to celebrate your life, the lives of your loved ones, and life in a general sense when you have a reverence for death in both your mind and heart.