The sheer probability of a person existing is staggering. The fact that you are here and in this time and place is a miracle. And as miraculous as it is that we exist, all living things will eventually pass from this earth as well. It is the great balance of nature.

We struggle with this balance and often find it hard to accept our eventual demise. Recent studies on the uses of psychedelics have proven highly beneficial to people facing terminal illnesses as therapy for their anxieties and stress related to death. 

80 patients with life-threatening cancer were administered psilocybin in a controlled setting, with some psychological counseling. More than three-quarters reported significant relief from depression and anxiety.

Studies have shown that when you experience a change in how your mind functions, such as through the controlled dosing of psilocybin, you may see your life in a new perspective and learn from the trip. Because your mind is an ever changing thing, patients were instructed to then meditate on their experiences for days and weeks to come, which contributed to the lasting effects of the treatment. This is proof that we can slowly change the mind’s basic wiring. 

When we can reduce our stress about the end of life, that fate we must face, we can be more present and appreciative of our lives, because life is a precious thing to be savored.