Reddit mentions of A Happy Death

Often times in the lives of humans we let ourselves be defined by externals, but this is only truly harmful to those who have never defined themselves internally, because without this internal definition, this laying out of who we are as defined by what we value most in the universe around us, without this, external definitions become the only thing we are and this is a horrible place to be.

When I find myself in a dark place, defined by things external to myself which leave me little control or direction in my own life, I look again at my internal definition of myself, my definition of the universe around me and when those are again refreshed in my mind, the external things loose their power because the master context of my life is switched back to those things most important -- valuable -- to me and my life.

If you don't have your own base definition of yourself, only just some awkward feeling of self left over from times past, then I envy you your task, for you get to build your definition in your immediate future, while mine was built so long ago -- not yet complete, but then I'm not yet dead.

Build your definition of yourself. There are many ways to do this. One thing which was most helpful to me at the age of twenty-two when I found it was this warrior's book, "A Happy Death" for it helped me understand that morals need not be religious, that self-interest and care was not selfishness, and that to live your life with the purpose of becoming the best human you can be is the most honorable way to die, and if you were this guy, well, the answer would be the same. His book tells a warrior's tale, too.

Accept that you were a warrior then, that you're a warrior now, and only the battle has changed. Build your self, it's your primary tool and will let you permanently put the externalities in their proper perspective.

Best wishes, warrior.