Memento mori: an artistic or symbolic trope acting as a reminder of the inevitability of death.
Awe: An overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful.
There have been moments in my life where I've felt motivated by the reminder of my lack of immortality (anytime I watch Last Holiday with Queen Latifah for example). But at times I feel as though using the concept of death to motivate life is like living out of fear. I've been wondering what memento mori alternatives there are for being motivated by something more positive. One alternative that I thought was interesting is positive awe.
Recent research using fMRI has shown that experiences of awe, such as watching awe-inspiring videos (compared to neutral or pleasant videos) decreases activity in the brain’s default mode network (DMN), which is associated with self-focus and rumination. The result is essentially a switch in perspective from centring oneself in the universe to taking a step back and seeing things from a higher vantage point.