#457 - Memento Mori: Being Intentional and Living for Meaning
Love, Happiness and Success with Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
4.6 • 849 Ratings
🗓️ 9 June 2025
⏱️ 55 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What if the secret to living your best life... is remembering that it won’t last forever?
In this episode of Love, Happiness, and Success, I’m joined by author and mindset coach Karen Salmansohn to explore how the ancient principle of memento mori—remembering that you will die—can radically transform the way you live right now.
Together, we unpack how mortality awareness isn’t morbid at all—it’s deeply motivational. When you get clear on what truly matters, you can stop spinning your wheels and start living for meaning with clarity, courage, and joy.
We’ll explore identity-based habits, reverse-engineering your values, and how writing your own eulogy (yep, really!) can actually help you build a life you’re proud to live. This isn’t about bucket lists or productivity hacks—it’s about being intentional and making sure your time, energy, and love are going exactly where you want them to.
Timestamps:
0:00 – The Problem With To-Do Lists
3:12 – Facing the Funeral Test: What Will They Say About You?
6:38 – Memento Mori: Mortality as a Motivator
15:05 – Identity-Based Habits and Core Values
20:44 – Who Do You Need to Become?
24:18 – A Ripple Effect That Lasts Generations
27:35 – Aristotle’s Happiness Formula
32:10 – The Near-Life Experience We Must Escape
36:42 – Your “To-Die” List vs Your To-Do List
40:55 – Creating Daily Habits That Reflect Who You Want to Be
44:00 – What Happens When You Align With Your Core Values
47:26 – The Marble Ritual: Measuring Time With Intention
53:18 – Monthly Reflections and Making This Summer Count
58:01 – Why Fun and Gratitude Are Core Values Too
1:02:20 – It’s Not About Death—It’s About Life
1:07:08 – How to Start Living for Meaning Now
Don’t wait for a crisis to wake you up. Choose to wake up now. Live for meaning. Be intentional. Remember that life is short, and that’s what makes it beautiful.
And if you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed by where to begin, I’d love to help. My Clarity and Confidence Coaching was made for moments just like this one. In this powerful work, you’ll reconnect with your deepest values, rediscover your purpose, and learn how to make intentional choices that move you toward the life you truly want.
Whether you’re navigating a big life transition or simply ready to stop running on autopilot, coaching gives you tools, insight, and support to create lasting, meaningful change.
Curious if it’s right for you? You can schedule a free consultation with our team. We’ll talk about where you are, where you want to go, and how clarity and confidence coaching can help you bridge the gap.
Also, come hang out with me on Instagram or YouTube — I’m always sharing tips, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes real talk to help you stay connected to what really matters.
Xoxo
P.S. If this message resonated with you, think of someone in your life who might need to hear it too. Forward this article to them. Let’s keep the ripple going. That’s living for meaning, too.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby, and you're listening to the Love, Happiness, and Success Podcast. |
| 0:19.4 | You could do everything on your to-do list, get to your end of your life, and be miserable. |
| 0:24.8 | Because your to-do list doesn't have the more meaningful fix on it. |
| 0:30.3 | So you alluded to die list that reminds you about the things that you're going to be treasuring most at the end of your life. |
| 0:43.3 | So here's something that might be a little uncomfortable to think about, but if you let |
| 0:53.3 | this in, it could be a game changer. |
| 0:56.5 | Have you ever asked yourself what someone would say about you at your funeral? |
| 1:03.4 | Not what you had, not about the stuff, but actually about who you were and what your life was all about. |
| 1:18.0 | I know that's a tough thing to think about, but when we let that in and really connect |
| 1:23.9 | with these picture ideas of who am I, why am I here, what am I doing with my life, |
| 1:30.5 | it can create a ton of clarity, intention, motivation, and will help you get your life on track |
| 1:40.8 | and help you create something that is truly meaningful and unforgettable. |
| 1:46.3 | And that's what today's episode is about. |
| 1:49.0 | My guest is Karen Salmanson, whose new book is a must read, and it is called |
| 1:56.5 | You're to Die for Life. |
| 2:00.1 | And in it, she's opening up these questions and more, giving you tools, giving you direction to find your big picture purpose and move forward. |
| 2:11.5 | And Karen, I'm so excited to talk to you about this today. |
| 2:14.8 | Holy moly. |
| 2:15.6 | These are the big question. |
| 2:19.0 | Presented in a gentle humorous at times way to make it an easier conversation. |
| 2:26.6 | Because death feels difficult to talk about it. |
| 2:29.3 | It's like one of the last taboo conversations. |
... |
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