We will all die. That reality can cause us to think in two completely different ways about life. The first way is despair, sadness, and similar negative feelings. The other way is to jolt yourself into a realisation that we need to make the most out of the precious moments we - and those we love - have. The first way is the automatic mind's reaction. No one would choose to despair or see life in that gloomy way, but it is a natural response from our genetic programming. The second way is a deliberately created alternative to despair, formed by the imaginative, creative mind which seeks to make the most out of any situation.
Mindfulness is taught as a therapy for those suffering from stress, etc. But it was originally a route to a better way of living life, within the anti-philosophy of Zen. People are obsessed with plans and ambitions. But when goals are achieved the result is often the absence of any satisfaction. Zen teaches us to focus on the present, and enjoy the simple beauties of everyday life. It also has implications for how we can be as a society and as a species. I explore all of this here.