The Conversation About Death That Will Change How You Live | Alua Arthur
Death doula, attorney, and spiritual guide Alua Arthur joins us to explore how embracing mortality awakens us to life’s deepest meaning. Through her book Briefly Perfectly Human and her work helping people die with peace and purpose, Alua invites us to face what we fear most — not to prepare for dying, but to learn how to live fully. We explore the taboos around death, the regrets people hold at the end of life, and the powerful clarity that comes from asking what remains undone. From grief and authenticity to her “glitter wave” theory of what happens when we die, Alua shows that the more intimately we meet our mortality, the more vibrantly we meet life itself.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Mortality Is Life’s Greatest Teacher
By facing death directly, we discover what truly matters. Awareness of impermanence sharpens presence and helps us live more intentionally.
The Regret of Inauthenticity
Most people don’t regret what they did — they regret not being who they truly were. Dying well begins with living honestly.
Grief as a Sacred Rebuilder
Grief cracks us open. It dismantles old identities and invites us to rebuild from truth, love, and what remains essential.
JOURNAL PROMPTS
prompt 01
If you met your future self on your deathbed, what would they thank you for — and what would they wish you had done differently?
prompt 02
What feels incomplete in your life right now? What step could you take today to bring it closer to wholeness?
prompt 03
How do you tend to avoid or resist grief — your own or others’? What might open if you allowed it to move through you fully?