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Why thinking about death helps you live a better life

1,374,929 views |

Alua Arthur |

TED2023

• April 2023

As a death doula, or someone who supports dying people and their loved ones, Alua Arthur spends a lot of time thinking about the end of life. In a profound talk that examines our brief, perfectly human time on this planet, she asks us to look at our lives through the lens of our deaths in seeking to answer the question: "What must I do to be at peace with myself so that I may live presently and die gracefully?"

As a death doula, or someone who supports dying people and their loved ones, Alua Arthur spends a lot of time thinking about the end of life. In a profound talk that examines our brief, perfectly human time on this planet, she asks us to look at our lives through the lens of our deaths in seeking to answer the question: "What must I do to be at peace with myself so that I may live presently and die gracefully?"

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Visit Going with Grace to embrace your mortality, become a death doula or seek end-of-life support.

Explore how you think about death with Alua Arthur's book, Briefly Perfectly Human.

About the speaker

Alua Arthur

See speaker profile

Alua Arthur is the founder of Going with Grace, an organization focused on redefining what it means to die gracefully.

Alua Arthur | Harper Collins, 2024 | Book

Briefly Perfectly Human

A deeply transformative memoir that reframes how we think about death and how it can help us lead better, more fulfilling and authentic lives, from America's preeminent death doula.

Charlotte Cowles | The Cut, 2020 | Article

"How Death Doula Alua Arthur Gets It Done"

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End of Life Training Scholarship Fund

We believe in knowledgeable, accessible and compassionate end-of-life care for all. Donating to our End of Life Training Scholarship Fund is a direct way to support this mission.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Visit Going with Grace to embrace your mortality, become a death doula or seek end-of-life support.

Explore how you think about death with Alua Arthur's book, Briefly Perfectly Human.