Death Awareness as Clarity Engine
Books Teaching This Pattern
Evidence

The World Is Different Because of You: Kai-Fu Lee's Autobiography
李开复,范海涛 · 2 highlights
“In the past, I liked “make a difference in the world because of you.” Now, that is still my life goal. However, I care more about whether, besides having a grand ideal, I make everyone I meet happy. Do I enjoy every accidental encounter, and do I enjoy every moment of connection with fate? Steve Jobs once said, “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.” This phrase has become my motto, reminding me every day to see clearly what is important in life. All glory and pride, embarrassment and fear will vanish before death, leaving only what truly matters—those most beautiful experiences in life.”
“The pursuit of efficiency made me neglect my health. Being buried in work every day caused me to lose sight of the subtle beauties of life. Subconsciously quantifying the value of everything made me forget the connections with the ordinary and the opportunity to relax with fate. I cared too much about the future, which made me sacrifice the appreciation of many present moments. In my pursuit of efficiency, I became cold and indifferent to things not in the plan.”