What would you do differently if you knew you only had 4,000 weeks to live?
In this episode of The Happy Neurotics Podcast, Dr. Todd Berntson and I explore how our denial of death shapes the way we live, and why confronting mortality is one of the most life-affirming things we can do.
We talk about how Western culture avoids death, why procrastination and busyness are really forms of pretending we’re immortal, and how reflecting on our finite time can bring our values and choices into sharper focus. You’ll also hear practical tools — from life timelines to writing your own eulogy — to help you orient toward meaning now, not “someday.”
You’ll learn how to:
Understand why death denial is so common in Western culture
Recognize procrastination and overwork as subtle forms of death avoidance
Use the 4,000 Weeks perspective to clarify what matters most
Apply reflection tools like the life timeline and writing your own eulogy
See how grief can become a doorway to self-correction and new meaning
Support others at the end of life by holding space for your own mortality
Why this matters
Avoiding death doesn’t protect us. It drains us. When we live as if time is unlimited, we procrastinate on the things that matter, stay stuck in holding patterns, and spend our energy on the unfinished.
Confronting mortality does the opposite: it sharpens our priorities, restores our energy, and reminds us to live in alignment with our deepest values.
By looking at death clearly, you can:
Stop waiting for “later” and start living more intentionally today
Let go of patterns that don’t serve you
Create a life you’d be proud to look back on. One that feels meaningful, not wasted
🎧 Listen to the full episode for personal reflections, clinical insights, and exercises to help you embrace the gift of mortality.
Timestamps
00:03 – Introduction: why we need to talk about death
00:26 – Facing mortality as a pathway to living more fully
02:10 – 4,000 Weeks: the shortness of life and the power of prioritizing
05:36 – Denial of death in Western culture and medicine
07:00 – Procrastination as a form of death avoidance
09:34 – The Zeigarnik effect: why unfinished business drains our energy
13:18 – Living by your values and aligning priorities
14:30 – Life stages as mini-deaths and rebirths
16:00 – Rituals, rites of passage, and integrating mortality
19:40 – Dani’s reflections on midlife, grief, and course correction
22:30 – Tools for reflection: life timeline, daily reminders, writing your own eulogy
27:02 – Living with meaning and impact
28:23 – The Pixar film Soul as a celebration of life
💬 Your turn to reflect:
If you wrote your own eulogy today, what would you want it to say — and how closely does your current life align with that vision?
📩 If this episode resonated, we’d love for you to share it with someone who matters to you. Every share helps us grow The Happy Neurotics community; one beautifully imperfect human at a time. You can also subscribe for more weekly conversations on self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the messy art of being human.
Resources & References Mentioned
📕Oliver Burkeman – 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
🎬 The Pixar movie Soul
🎙Spanish Podcast: Voces de Cambio – La Muerte: Transformar el Dolor en Crecimiento
💡The Zeigarnik Effect – psychological principle about unfinished tasks consuming mental energy
