Episode 8: How Death Can Sharpen Life
One thing is for sure: We are all going to die.
But most of us live our lives ignoring this fact until we, or people we love, are diagnosed with a few weeks, months, or years to live.
This is a devastating experience and one that requires heavy emotional lifting to navigate. But in some strange ways, this tragic news can actually make our lives and relationships better.
In this episode of The Vibrant Couple, transpersonal psychologist and death doula Wilka Roig discusses how contemplating death–whether or not we have been diagnosed with a short life expectancy or not–can enhance our lives and our intimate relationships.
Listen to learn more!
Show Notes
01:18 – Valdo introduces today’s guest, Wilka Roig
02:43 – Why quality of life can increase when people learn they have little time left to live
04:05 – Learning to deal with pain, loss, and trauma
07:19 – Happiness comes from learning to fully experience all parts of life
09:25 – How contemplating death changes the way we communicate as a couple
13:34 – We have become pain- and discomfort-phobic
14:26 – Learning not to project our pain/losses on our significant other
15:40 – Learning to live the moment as if it were our last day
18:17 – How the understanding of our mortality leads to better and more connected sex
Links
Learn more about Wilka’s work on her website: https://wilkaroig.com/
Follow Wilka on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilka_roig/
Connect with Wilka on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wilkaroig
Email Wilka: info@wilkaroig.com
Bio
Wilka Roig is a transpersonal psychologist, death doula, grief counselor, dream worker, ordained minister, educator, facilitator, writer, Taoist Arts instructor, musician, photographer, performance artist, silversmith, baker, and mythmaker.
She is president of Fundación Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (EKR) México Centro, deputy director of EKR Foundation Global, end-of-life doula instructor and BIPOC Council co-chair of the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA).
Her interests include the neurobiology of trauma, loss, grief, and relationships, conscious living & dying, confectionery arts, and wine culture.
Music
Intro music: Sukavah Bodeh by Peter Levitov & Maxime Le Royer, from their Life is Good album.