Is considering your own mortality depressing or motivating?

For me, it is very motivating. It is useful to remind ourselves at least from time to time that we might die tomorrow or even today. And the best way to deal with it is to live our best lives. All your mistakes and failures won't matter when you die, but opportunities you've missed, chances you didn't take, dreams you didn't follow will. There might not be tomorrow, so live today to the fullest and do the meaningful work that matters.

I don't feel depressing or motivating. Just peaceful and tranquil.

You know, if you have a personal project, you'll work on it forever, sometimes procrastinating and it'll never ever be truly complete. Every project needs a deadline. Similarly, death is a deadline too.

My mother died when I was five years old so I've been conscious of my mortality for 37 years now. I've always felt like my time is painfully limited. I don't know if "motivated" is always the right word for it though - often it's a feeling of anxiety that I'm wasting what little time I have. It can lead to spending too much time on activities that "feel" productive (programming etc..) when I should be spending more time on things like writing or designing work which can feel a lot more 'slack' in terms of my application of effort (this is often purely psychological - you can't be creative without giving your brain some space). I have to force myself to take breaks and holidays or I have a tendency to burn myself out. So yeah, mortality is motivating but it's also tangled up in emotions that aren't always helpful!

Reflecting on mortality is incredibly motivating, but it’s also true that it can bring sadness—it’s both a weight and a gift. I think of it as a kind of compass, one that reminds us that our time is finite and that each moment has value. Steve Jobs was right: death is a profound “change agent,” one that forces us to confront what we truly want out of life. It can be uncomfortable, even scary, but it also has a way of stripping away all the distractions and bringing what’s essential into focus. Personally, I find that keeping mortality in mind helps me align my actions with my values. It’s a reminder to focus on things that genuinely matter to me and to let go of what doesn’t—whether that's expectations, regrets, or unnecessary pressures. Like your loading bar tattoo, I have my own ways of marking time, reminders that encourage me to live fully now, rather than waiting for “someday.” When I start to feel overwhelmed by life’s limitations, I try to remember that while we can’t control the quantity of our time, we can absolutely shape its quality. Instead of focusing on what’s missing, I focus on what’s possible: the impact I can make, the relationships I can nurture, and the joy I can find in small moments. Embracing mortality keeps me grounded, encourages me to take risks, and—most importantly—keeps me grateful. How does your loading bar tattoo affect your daily choices? Does it help you feel more connected to what’s meaningful to you?