I’ve always carried these high expectations for myself—the push to live fully, to achieve more, to help more, and to finally find that place where my talents feel truly useful. Yet, in chasing all of this, I often pause and wonder: is this really what we’re here for?
Sometimes I imagine someone sitting quietly under a tree, just breathing, meditating in silence. In that simple stillness, they might be offering more peace to the world than a politician making choices that harm humanity. That thought hits me hard. Could it be that simply being here, simply existing, is already enough?
Maybe life isn’t always about doing—it’s about being. I keep returning to the idea that the meaning of life might simply be life itself: to witness, to appreciate, to admire all the little moments that surround us.
I’ve come to believe that it’s better to wrestle with these existential questions than to drift through life on autopilot, never pausing to think about what we truly value, why we’re here, or how we might make the world a better place. Maybe the “existential crisis” isn’t a curse at all, but a secret doorway—one that can lead to self-awareness, deeper connection, and even transformation.
📺 Introduction
While researching this topic, I discovered a video from my favorite author at The School of Life (watch here). It beautifully highlights the weight we place on finding ultimate meaning and how this pursuit often brings us to the very core of an existential crisis.
But is the existential crisis inevitable? And if so, is it useful—or just another trick of our restless minds?
🌌 Exploring the Meaning of an Existential Crisis
When we talk about the existential crisis meaning, we often discover that this question has been explored across psychology, philosophy, and spirituality for centuries. Different traditions approach it from different angles, yet all circle around the same mystery: why are we here, and what gives life its value?
Let’s look at these perspectives more closely.
🧠The Psychological View
From a psychological perspective, an existential crisis often arises from our deep need for coherence, purpose, and self-understanding. Psychologists have long explored how humans search for meaning, especially when faced with suffering, loss, or life transitions.
- Viktor Frankl and Logotherapy – Frankl emphasized that even in the harshest conditions, humans have the capacity to find meaning. According to him, life’s purpose is not universal; it is deeply personal and must be discovered individually, moment by moment. When this personal sense of meaning feels absent, anxiety, despair, and a sense of emptiness can emerge.
- Existential Psychology – Beyond Frankl, existential psychologists like Rollo May and Irvin Yalom focused on human concerns such as freedom, isolation, death, and meaninglessness. They suggest that confronting these “givens of existence” can trigger crisis but also offers an opportunity for profound personal growth.
- Humanistic Psychology – Figures like Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow highlight self-actualization—the drive to fulfill our potential—as a core human need. A crisis may arise when there’s a gap between who we are and who we aspire to be, prompting deep reflection and transformation.
Neurobiology also plays a role. Our brain’s prefrontal cortex, which developed to project the future and analyze the past, makes us uniquely capable of self-reflection—and uniquely prone to questioning existence itself.
Some people are more prone than others:
- Highly sensitive individuals
- Deep thinkers and creatives
- Those experiencing loss or major transitions
- People with high expectations of life
🏛️The Philosophical View
Philosophers, long before psychology and neuroscience, also wrestled with these same questions:
- Søren Kierkegaard – Saw crisis and despair not as something to avoid, but as the very gateway to faith and authentic living.
- Friedrich Nietzsche – Believed that when we face the void of existence, we have the chance to create our own meaning and live more courageously.
- Jean-Paul Sartre – Argued that life has no pre-given meaning, but we are free (and responsible) to create our own purpose through choices.
- Albert Camus – Described life as absurd—full of questions without final answers. Instead of despair, he encouraged us to embrace the absurd and live with passion anyway.
Though their conclusions differ, they all point to one inspiring truth: an existential crisis doesn’t have to be the end of meaning—it can be the beginning of it.
✨ The Spiritual View
In spirituality, the existential crisis meaning takes another dimension. Eastern philosophies and mystical traditions often suggest that what we call a “crisis” is not a breakdown, but a form of awakening. It is less about losing our way, and more about being shaken into deeper awareness.
- Buddhism – Teaches that suffering (dukkha) is inherent to life, but awareness of impermanence can be freeing rather than paralyzing. When we accept that nothing lasts forever, we stop clinging and begin to live with openness and compassion.
- Hinduism – Sees existence as a cycle of rebirths (samsara), where crises are not random but lessons carried across lifetimes. Struggles may be tied to karma, shaping us for greater growth.
- Stoicism – Though Western, mirrors this wisdom by encouraging us to accept death as natural, to surrender what we cannot control, and to focus on virtue and present living.
- Taoism – Reminds us that much of life is beyond our control. Rather than forcing answers, we are invited to flow with the Tao—the natural order—trusting that even confusion has its place in harmony.
- Mystical traditions – From Sufism in Islam to Christian mysticism, many see existential doubt as part of a sacred journey. The soul must pass through “dark nights” before reaching deeper union with the divine.
From this perspective, existential questions may not always be under our control. They can feel like something greater—fate, destiny, or the hand of the universe—nudging us to awaken, to pause, and to realign with what truly matters.
So perhaps our existential questions are not accidents at all, but guides—whispering reminders that beyond the confusion lies truth, connection, and a deeper way of being.
🌱 Practical Insights and Exercises
When facing an existential crisis, it’s easy to feel like the solution must be something huge—like finding a perfect life purpose or changing the world in a dramatic way. But often, grounding ourselves comes not from the “big answers,” but from small, daily practices that bring us closer to the present moment. Here are some reflections and exercises to try:
- Journaling prompts – Write daily on gentle questions like “What matters most to me right now?” or “What small actions today align with my values?” The act of writing helps slow down the mind and uncover clarity.
- Meditation – Guided meditations on impermanence, gratitude, or even simple breath awareness can remind us that being is just as valuable as doing.
- Acts of service – Helping others often eases the weight of self-questioning. And this doesn’t have to mean volunteering full-time or starting a foundation. Sometimes it’s as simple as offering a kind word, listening to a friend, or smiling at a stranger on the street.
- Micro-goals – Instead of searching for “the one big purpose,” focus on small meaningful actions. Cooking a nourishing meal, reading a few pages of an inspiring book, or taking a mindful walk can all be ways of honoring life.
- Nature connection – Spending time outdoors grounds us. Watching a sunset, touching a tree, or simply breathing fresh air reminds us of our place in a larger whole.
An existential crisis isn’t a call to stop living—it’s an invitation to live more deeply. And sometimes, that depth reveals itself not in extraordinary deeds, but in ordinary moments filled with awareness and care.
🌱 Final Words
So, is the existential crisis coded in us? Perhaps yes. But instead of resisting it, we can learn to see it as a compass—a signal that reminds us to return to what truly matters. It’s not about finding a final solution to life’s great questions, but about discovering how to live with them more gently, more consciously.
Maybe the point is not always about doing more, achieving more, or fixing everything. What if the deeper invitation is about being—being present, being aware, and being willing to experience life in all its colors, even the difficult ones?
An existential crisis can feel heavy, but it is also proof that you are awake to life, searching for depth where others may settle for distraction. And in that search lies something profoundly human, even profoundly beautiful.
And maybe that is the gift of the existential crisis—not an end point, but an opening toward living with more truth, depth, and presence.
If you are grappling with life’s big questions, feeling a sense of emptiness, or searching for deeper purpose, know that you don’t have to face this journey alone. I would be honored to walk alongside you as you explore meaning, clarity, and direction in your life. You can connect with me at timeacoaching.com.
📖 Recommended Articles
Touched by the Beyond: Life-Changing Insights from Near-Death Experiencers – A deep dive into what near-death experiences teach us about life, love, and meaning.
The Journey to Purpose – An inspiring reflection on how to gradually find purpose without rushing or forcing it.
📚 Recommended Books
Here are five best-selling books on existential crisis and the meaning of life:
- Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor E. Frankl: A classic exploring how purpose can be found even in the darkest suffering.
- The Untethered Soul – Michael A. Singer: A spiritual guide to freeing yourself from the voice of the restless mind.
- The Denial of Death – Ernest Becker: A powerful work on how our fear of mortality shapes human culture and behavior.
- When Things Fall Apart – Pema Chödrön: A Buddhist perspective on dealing with uncertainty, pain, and inner turmoil.
- The Happiness of Pursuit – Chris Guillebeau: An inspiring book on how pursuing quests gives our lives meaning and direction.
💬 Questions for You
🌍 What does the existential crisis meaning feel like for you?
🧘 Have you found practices that help you during these moments of questioning?
📚 Which book, teaching, or experience has helped you the most when facing life’s big questions?
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