Full Idea
For Heidegger, as a consequence of my anxiety in the face of death, I am set free to live my life as my own rather than doing things merely because others expect me to do them.
Gist of Idea
Anxiety about death frees me to live my own life
Source
report of Martin Heidegger (Being and Time [1927]) by Mark Wrathall - Heidegger: how to read 7
Book Reference
Wrathall,Mark: 'Heidegger: how to read' [Granta 2005], p.70
A Reaction
Contrary to Epicurus, Heidegger thinks anxiety about death is a good thing. The point is, I suppose, that we all die alone, and people who are very socially contrained need to face up to death in order to grasp their autonomy.