"However, those who have stood at the threshold of life-those who have undergone near-death experiences (NDEs)-frequently tell us something strikingly different. When they undergo a life review, they don't evaluate their journey by how much they received or how often they felt "good." They don't ask if they were sufficiently validated. Instead, they ask a much more piercing question: "Was I good for something? What was I good for?""
"They measure the weight of their lives by what they shared and sent out into the world-even things that seemed infinitesimally small at the time: a kind word to a stranger, a listening ear during a friend's crisis, or a moment of patience when it was least expected. They look at what they gave, not what they took. This shift in perspective is more than just a poignant observation; it is a fundamental psychological law that Viktor Frankl, the father of Logotherapy, articulated decades ago."
Near-death life reviews measure lives by goodness, presence, and usefulness rather than by pleasure, success, or recognition. Those who undergo life reviews focus on what they shared—small acts of kindness, attentive listening, and patience—rather than on what they received. Inner wealth tends to grow through giving, and strategic, transactional giving undermines meaning while uncalculated giving sustains it. Psychological and spiritual well-being depends more on knowing what one is good for and how one contributed than on transient feelings of being validated or emotionally filled.
Read at Psychology Today
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