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Waymaker WednesdayApril 16, 20253 min read

You Are Mortal. So Remember to Live.

It is WayMaker Wednesday. Time to challenge your mind, reframe your perspective, and equip yourself for action.

The Question

Who has shaped your life profoundly without ever realizing their impact, and how might you honor them today?

The Thought

Memento Vivere. Remember to live.

You may have heard the phrase memento mori, which means "remember you will die."

It is a powerful reminder of your mortality. A call to reject triviality and live with purpose, knowing that life is fleeting.

Snap your fingers.

That fast, it is gone.

Memento mori asks the question:

What would you die for?

Would you die for your faith? Your family? Your values?

But memento vivere asks something else entirely:

What are you willing to live for?

Not in rare heroic moments.

But in every ordinary one.

To live with intention on a quiet Tuesday.

To show up fully on a chaotic Thursday.

To treat this moment as sacred.

Because it is.

Most people drift.

They waste their days numbing, chasing, or reacting.

But the WayMaker remembers to live.

To engage. To choose. To be awake.

Not just to survive, but to maximize the breath they have been given.

Memento mori. Memento vivere.

Remember you are mortal.

So remember to live.

Go forth with intention.

And live.

Put It Into Action

The Intentional Pause: A 90-Second Power Tool

  • From Be Relentless, this practice sharpens performance and awareness in high-stakes moments.
  • When to use it:
  • When emotions challenge logic
  • Before important decisions
  • In moments of conflict or confusion
  • When new information surfaces
  • Anytime speed begins to blur your vision
  • How to use it:
  • 1. Physically Step back (or lean back) to shift your visual and mental perspective
  • 2. Take a deep breath to reset your nervous system
  • 3. Ask yourself three questions:
  • What am I assuming that might not be true?
  • What am I actually seeing now with fresh eyes?
  • How can I best apply myself in this moment?
  • Then act with clarity, not reactivity
  • Your greatest power is not in motion.
  • It is in your ability to pause, assess, and move with precision.
  • Try it today.
  • Choose one situation where you tend to react.
  • Insert the pause and change the outcome.

*Who came to mind while reading this?

Send it to them now, while you can.*

Forge Forward,

Jon Mayo

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JMJon Mayo

Jon Mayo

Executive coach, author, and creator of WayMaker.

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