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The Science of Happiness · October 22, 2026 · 25m 40s

What If Thinking About Death Could Make Us Feel More Alive?

We often avoid thinking about death, but research suggests that facing our mortality can help us live more fully and focus on what matters most. On this episode, death doula Andrea Sexton-Dumas shares how her experiences with loss have shaped her understanding of grief, connection, and finding hope. Psychologist Philip Cozzolino explains how reflecting on our limited time can help us live more authentically, strengthen our relationships, and find greater meaning in everyday life.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Preview

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Psychologist Philip Cozzolino explains that reflecting on our limited time can help us live more authentically, strengthen our relationships, and find greater meaning in everyday life.
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Grief shared with nature can feel held and witnessed
Death doula Andrea Sexton-Dumas shares a practice of imagining sharing grief with a plant and the earth, allowing the soil to symbolically receive and hold one's heartache.

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