The Surprising Link Between Near-Death Experiences and Career Changes
A new Canadian study shows that near-death experiences (NDEs) don’t just change how people see life—they transform how they work. Published in the Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, the research found that after brushing against death, employees often ditch chasing money and status for meaningful work and deeper connections.
NDEs are intense personal events some report after almost dying. These can include floating outside the body, reliving life moments, or feeling overwhelming unity and love.
Researchers interviewed 14 working adults (average age: 52) who’d had NDEs about 18 years earlier. Their jobs ranged from farming to law, but their post-NDE work shifts followed similar patterns.
Many quit corporate jobs for purpose-driven work. One participant said they pursued entrepreneurship for “spiritual fulfillment rather than ego gratification.”
Others adapted their current roles, like a worker who believed they gained an intuitive ability to sense injuries in accident victims.
Six key themes emerged: new insights (like believing consciousness survives death), personal growth (increased confidence or spirituality), reprioritizing work (less focus on money, more on meaning), career changes (75% switched jobs), shifted motivation (driven by purpose, not promotions), and deeper workplace relationships.
Participants rejected old markers of success. “Before the near-death experience, it was about boats and big houses and Range Rovers and trips and shopping. That doesn’t really matter anymore,” one said.
Instead, they valued time, connections, and impact. Another explained their motivation now came from a “very strange, deep place” to “make a huge impact.”
Even workplace interactions changed. Transactions became about gratitude, not just money. As one put it, exchanges felt like “shared presence,” creating richer bonds.
The study suggests everyone could learn from this mindset—prioritizing meaning over hustle, nurturing relationships, and valuing purpose beyond paychecks. As the paper notes, no one’s final wish is for more overtime.
