Living For Meaning: How to Use the ‘Memento Mori’ Mindset to Find Direction and Create a Purpose-Driven Life | Happiness | LHS Classic

Most people don’t realize they’re running on autopilot until life forces them to stop. Through the lens of ‘Memento Mori’, this episode shows you how living for meaning can help you find direction, improve your overall well-being, and create a purpose-driven life. You’ll learn how to use this mindset shift to support your self improvement, reduce your stress, and cultivate happiness right now.

I’m joined by Karen Salmansohn, author and mindset coach, for a conversation about living for meaning and finding direction through the lens of Memento Mori. I’m revisiting this episode because its message feels especially relevant right now - how to reduce stress, stay grounded in your mindset, and create a purpose-driven life without giving up your ambition or drive. Rather than being morbid, the Memento Mori mindset offers clarity. It brings you back into the present moment and helps you make more intentional choices about who you are becoming and what truly matters.

Together, we explore why traditional to-do lists often leave people feeling busy but unfulfilled, and how shifting toward values-based, identity-driven habits can support greater happiness and emotional well-being. This episode is an invitation to step out of autopilot, reconnect with what matters most, and begin living with more intention starting exactly where you are.

As you listen, I invite you to reflect on this question: If your time is limited, what deserves more of your attention right now?

Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Welcome to Love, Happiness & Success
00:48 The “funeral question” and how it helps you live with meaning
01:19 Memento Mori and using mortality awareness to find direction
05:29 Karen’s wake-up call and the origin of Your To Die For Life
09:13 “Everything that is not given is lost” and the meaning of legacy
14:22 Aristotle on happiness vs pleasure and building a purpose-driven life
21:08 The to-die list, core values, and identity-based habits
30:22 Karen’s seven core values and intentional daily choices
38:28 Mortality marbles and a mindset shift that reduces stress
46:31 Dr. Lisa’s 9/11 story and choosing a more intentional life

If this gives you a desire for more meaning, more clarity, or a different relationship with stress, I want to offer you something supportive. You’re invited to schedule a free consultation with me or a trusted member of my team. This is a private, secure space to talk about what’s been weighing on you, what you want to feel differently, and what kind of support would truly help you move forward. You’ll answer just a few quick questions so we can thoughtfully match you with the right counselor or coach and help you take the next step toward a more intentional, purpose-driven life.

xoxo,
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
Growing Self