<p><em>New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers</em></p> <p><em>---</em></p> <p>The surprisingly common experience of near death experiences and what science still can't explain about them.</p> <p>Sebastian Junger is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of <em>The Perfect Storm</em>, <em>Fire</em>, <em>A Death in Belmont</em>, <em>War and Tribe</em>, and <em>In My Time of Dying</em>. As an award-winning journalist, a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and a special correspondent at ABC News, he has covered major international news stories around the world, and has received both a National Magazine Award and a Peabody Award.</p> <p><br /></p> <p><strong>In this episode we talk about:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Junger's near death experience and the impact it had on him</li> <li>The conclusions he came to after investigation the possibilities of an afterlife </li> <li>The mysteries of quantum physics and what they might tell us about life and death</li> <li>How he believes we can all experience awe on a daily basis </li> </ul> <p><br /></p> <p><strong>Related Episodes:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/alua-arthur-archive" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How Thinking About Death Can Improve Your Life | Alua Arthur</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/neil-degrasse-tyson-594" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Neil DeGrasse Tyson on Why Having a "Cosmic Perspective" Will Help You Do Life Better</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/george-saunders-511" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">George Saunders on: "Holy Befuddlement" and How to Be Less of a "Turd"</a></p> <p><br /></p> <p><strong>Sign up for Dan's weekly newsletter</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/3QtGRqJ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a></p> <p><strong>Follow Dan on social:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/3tGigG5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Instagram</strong></a><strong>,</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/3FOA84J" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>TikTok</strong></a></p> <p><strong>Ten Percent Happier online</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/46TZglY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>bookstore</strong></a></p> <p><strong>Subscribe to our</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/3FybRzD" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>YouTube Channel</strong></a></p> <p><strong>Our favorite playlists on:</strong> <a href="https://spoti.fi/3Qa8kMT" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Anxiety</strong></a><strong>,</strong> <a href="https://spoti.fi/3MjtMxF" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Sleep</strong></a><strong>,</strong> <a href="https://spoti.fi/3QvyA5J" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Relationships</strong></a><strong>,</strong> <a href="https://spoti.fi/3QxZASc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Most Popular Episodes</strong></a></p> <p><br /></p> <p><strong>Full Shownotes:</strong> <a href="https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/sebastian-junger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/sebastian-junger</a></p> <p><br /></p> <p><strong>Additional Resources:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Download the Ten Percent Happier app today: <a href="https://10percenthappier.app.link/install" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://10percenthappier.app.link/install</a></li> </ul> <p><br /></p>
Actionable Insights
1. Prioritize Mutual Care
Actively take care of each other, especially when needed most, as this is what saves us psychologically and physically and makes life worth living.
2. Embrace Present Moment
Do not miss out on the current moment by being distracted; be present right now as it is all you will ever get, avoiding spending it on phones or TV.
3. Cultivate Reverence & Awe
Develop a deep appreciation and wonder for everyday existence by truly seeing the world around you, understanding life as a miracle without needing religious belief.
4. Value All Present Moments
Embrace and find value in every present moment, even if it is unpleasant or a ’traffic jam,’ recognizing that existing in any form is better than not existing at all.
5. Contemplate Mortality
Regularly think about your own death, as this understanding defines us, makes life sacred, and helps us appreciate its importance and meaning.
6. Live Seriously
Take your life seriously and avoid carelessness, as a lack of seriousness can lead to profound regret and missed opportunities.
7. Reframe Scary Experiences
Instead of viewing terrifying or traumatic events as purely scary, try to reframe them as sacred opportunities for profound learning or insight.
8. Investigate for Inner Peace
When faced with deeply unsettling or mysterious personal experiences, investigate them thoroughly to calm your mind and soul, as information can be reassuring.
9. Minimize Digital Distractions
Reduce reliance on smartphones and television by opting for simpler devices or removing them from your life to enhance present moment awareness and engagement.
10. Balance Appreciation & Function
Navigate between being deeply appreciative of existence and still being able to function in daily life, avoiding paralysis from overwhelming wonder.
11. Find Comfort in Interconnection
Derive comfort from the understanding that you are inextricably part of nature and the universe, returning to it upon death, which is a non-negotiable aspect of existence.
12. View Death as Expansion
Consider the possibility that death is not an ending of individuality but an infinite expansion, where one joins something more than they are leaving, such as a universal consciousness.
13. Accept Comforting Illusions
If a hallucination or belief alleviates suffering, accept it as beneficial, as there is nothing good about human suffering.
14. Appreciate Improbable Existence
Find comfort and wonder in the sheer, almost inconceivable improbability of the universe and your own existence, recognizing it as an extraordinary ‘freak show.’
15. Recognize Others’ Love
Acknowledge and value the acts of love and care from others, especially in moments of need, as these connections can be profoundly powerful and healing.
16. Try Meditation App
Explore using a meditation app like ‘10% with Dan Harris’ to access guided meditations for stress, anxiety, sleep, focus, and self-compassion, and to engage with a community.