Existential despair is the feeling that life has no inherent meaning or value. It is the sense that you are insignificant, powerless, and alone in a vast and indifferent universe. It is the loss of hope, joy, and motivation.
Existential despair can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, suicide, and other mental health issues. It can also affect your relationships, your work, your hobbies, and your overall well-being.
The Causes of Existential Despair
Existential despair can result from a combination of factors, such as:
Trauma: Experiencing or witnessing violence, abuse, loss, or injustice can shatter your sense of safety, trust, and belonging. It can also make you question the fairness and morality of life.
Crisis: Facing a major life change, such as divorce, illness, death, or unemployment can disrupt your sense of identity, stability, and control. It can also make you doubt your abilities and goals.
Isolation: Feeling lonely, rejected, or misunderstood can erode your sense of connection and support. It can also make you feel unworthy and unloved.
Alienation: Feeling disconnected from yourself, others, or society can diminish your sense of authenticity and belonging. It can also make you feel empty and lost.
Nihilism: Believing that life has no objective meaning or value can undermine your sense of purpose and direction. It can also make you feel hopeless and cynical.
The Solutions to Finding Meaning
You don’t have to succumb to existential despair. You can overcome it by finding meaning in life.
Meaning is not something that exists out there, waiting for you to discover it. Meaning is something that you create for yourself, by choosing how to live and what to value.
To find meaning in life, you need to:
Accept reality: Rather than denying or resisting the harsh realities of life, accept them as part of the human condition. Recognize that suffering and joy are both inevitable and temporary aspects of life.
Explore yourself: Rather than conforming to external expectations or norms, explore your own interests, strengths, values, and passions. Discover what makes you unique and what gives you fulfillment.
Express yourself: Rather than suppressing or hiding your true self, express it through words, actions, art, or any other form of creativity. Share your thoughts, feelings, opinions, and experiences with others.
Connect with others: Rather than isolating yourself or avoiding intimacy, connect with others who share your worldview, goals, or struggles. Offer and receive support, compassion, and feedback.
Contribute to others: Rather than focusing on yourself or competing with others, contribute to the well-being of others through service, kindness, generosity, or advocacy. Make a positive difference in the world.
The Benefits of Living with Purpose
Finding meaning in life can have many benefits for your mental and physical health. Some of these benefits include:
Happiness: Living with purpose can increase your happiness by enhancing your positive emotions, satisfaction, and gratitude. It can also reduce your negative emotions, stress, and boredom.
Resilience: Living with purpose can increase your resilience by strengthening your coping skills, optimism, and hope. It can also buffer you from the impact of trauma, crisis, or adversity.
Growth: Living with purpose can increase your growth by stimulating your curiosity, learning, and development. It can also challenge you to overcome your fears, limitations, or obstacles.
Health: Living with purpose can increase your health by improving your immune system, cardiovascular system, and brain function. It can also lower your risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes or cancer.
Life may not have an inherent meaning or value. But that does not mean that life is pointless or worthless.
You have the power to create your own meaning and value in life. You have the freedom to choose how to live and what to care about.
You have the opportunity to find meaning in life by accepting reality; exploring yourself; expressing yourself; connecting with others; contributing to others.
You have the potential to enjoy the benefits of living with purpose such as happiness; resilience; growth; health.
You have the responsibility to live with purpose, not only for yourself, but also for others and for the world.
You have the gift of life. Make it meaningful.
