The Last Thought You'll Ever Think

Keywords: near-death experience, power in we, relationships, self-improvement, thoughts

Categories: Self-help, Personal development & Spirituality

Published On: Jul 07, 2010

Last updated on:: Jul 07, 2010

What do people think about in their final moments of this life?

I was watching a recorded Oprah episode today in which she was interviewing singer, Bret Michaels (from the rock band, Poison), about his recent near-death experience. She asked him what he thought about when he thought he was going to die.

He said that he thought about his family and the people he loves. He began to ask God to allow him to live longer if he promised to be a better man and let him stay with his family. Oprah agreed that she had heard many people say that their last thoughts were of the people they loved and the people that loved them.

In Brendon Burchard's Book, Life's Golden Ticket, he says that people will ask three questions when their life is over. They are:
1. Did I live?
2. Did I love?
3. Did I matter?

These three questions are the questions he, himself, asked when he was at death's door after a bad car accident and thought he might not make it. In addition to these questions, many will feel regret over a broken relationship or an act not taken in their lives.

All of these things that human beings think about just before death have to do with who we are and our relationships with other people. None of them focus on things, money, etc. and interestingly enough, none of them include anger, jealousy, or judgment. In the final moments of our lives, we are not thinking about our 'to-do' lists, the pile of work we have sitting on our desk, how we will pay our bills next month, or what item we want to purchase next. We are not thinking about how much we hate someone else, how to get revenge, or how superior we are over someone else.

We are thinking about who we have become, who we love, how we can mend ourselves and relationships, and how we have affected the lives of others.

As I think about this, I find it both fascinating and sad that we spend so much of our daily time and energy on things that really don't matter that much to us in the end. It brings to mind a song called "Live Like You Were Dying". It makes we wonder. If we all realized that we are indeed dying--right from the moment we are born, would we change what we are doing? Would we change how we spend our time and energy or what we focus on? Would we strive to improve ourselves and our relationships more?

If those are the questions we will be asking in the end, then why not ask them now and create the answers that we want to be able to have when our lives here are finished?

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David Einert wrote at 12:34:08 PM on Jul 07, 2010

Linda,
Went through a near death experience early in life and medically I was not near death but believed I was. Yes Yes Yes about thinking of loved ones and letting them know that they were loved and last thoughts and words. Yes I had asked God to give me more time and that I would do better. It did change my outlook on what was important and many said have you no priorities because mine had changed. I observe that many live in a plastic made up reality; oh its real but from my viewpoint it's plastic not living flesh and blood real. Many admire along with myself those who have a short time to live and have forgiveness and patience for those around them and live life and smell the roses, coffee and everything else with joy and admiration.

In a sense sometimes life is like how some people buy food- buy too much and hold on to it so long that it spoils without ever being used. That's how I have lived parts of my life-looked at it as potential without realization. You see each moment is like a wonderful fruit fully ripe and ready to eat. We can choose to dive right in and get our face wet with juice and smile with the wonderful flavors and texture or hold on to it siting there or bundled in the refrigerator.

I think that it comes down to style in how we live and approach life. When we feel that we have been shut down or burned we are reluctant to open to new experiences. When we have been successful and exuberant we cannot wait until the next chance of opportunity. Sometimes it is just faith in ones self and others. I remember faith by an old Indiana Jones movie where Indie was going to cross a chasm that you could see a river thousands of feet below. An old witch doctor had told Indie where the bridge was and it was invisible until he walked on it. Indie a brave man found the spot and checked it. He look down below and saw it was far and carefully put his foot down into nothingness. That is faith. His foot landed on a bridge that then appeared and he crossed.

Dave

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Gargi Banerjee wrote at 11:18:57 AM on Jul 18, 2010

Hi Linda,

My god your journal is such an eye-opener for all those who dont give any significance to the fantastic lives they have been gifted by the almighty. More often than not u find people around u grumbling, cribbing, complaining about less money, less time, lesser things than their neighbour, some squabble they had while driving to work etc.. I wonder why. I fail to comprehend what goes on in their minds.

I suppose one should take time everyday and look back at every moment to know what satisfied them and how they made someone happy. Thanks for writing this because even I would like to bring a change in my thoughts from now on to be a better person. I suppose, this way, when I'm at death's door, perhaps my thoughts will be different...who knows?

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Richard Howship wrote at 03:34:47 PM on Jul 20, 2010

Don Juan says death is our best friend because it never lies to us. If I need a reminder of what is truly important I turn to the left and ask my death, it reminds me. I recently saw Prem Rawat we saw a documentary about conscious beings who were dying and the joy understanding and acceptance of cycles that knowledge was giving them. Prem came on stage and said 25,550. What is the significance of that figure? he asked and answered this is the average number of days we spend on Earth as human beings. How many of these days have you already spent, how many in unconsciousness? Now, is the moment to delight in breath and what it brings, live this life consciously while you have it he recommended.

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Keith Vxxxxxxxxx wrote at 08:04:03 PM on Jul 20, 2010

As always, my dear sister hits a solid chord of humanity ... Her entry reminds me of a song I use to sing for churches, family reunions, and other "what matters" type events! Such events can be funerals and some can be just at a family and friend reunion when everyone is sharing, eating, playing games, and talking to one another with joy, laughter and even some arguments! These words ring in my head as the sonG I use to sing is now out of print! ... IT STARTS:

so little time..., and we spend so ittle time with reason to forgive, so little faith to guide and teach us how to live! So much we covet, on life's highway we climb! but, for the things that really matter, we spend so litlle time, SO LITTLE TIME!

EVERYTIME I sang the song, there were many tears! IT IS SO true that our focus on life may simply compel us to spend a great deal of time doing "things" that DO NOT really matter. We need to do things that teach us how to live.. learn and be humble/reachable, we need to do things in secret so that the universe rewards us openly! AND it is SO easy to measure our success by comparing outselves and possessions to those who we deem successful... so much we covet... really, spend more time in the things that REALLY MATTER! Became my motto when I am making out my daily goal sheet and schedule. Keep that in mind and you may find your schedule changes a great deal .. also allow for spontaneity! THE poignant, ever present of oneself being aware of each day as the activities surround you... be present, be aware, be cognizant (awareness through personal experience) of every opportunity to not just visit a day but to live the day as Linda so vividly states, ask the questions NOW and then live in total awareness of the impact you make on yourself and on each and every person, place or thing you visit daily! Thanks again for making me think about what I am spending my time doing! K

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