Living a Life of Meaning and Purpose: Existential Therapy for Dissatisfaction and Depression
Life has a way of knowing just how to disrupt….well, everything. It turns everything over and leaves you spinning, asking, “What the hell just happened?” or “How did I get here…?” It leaves you feeling disconnected, lost, confused, and overwhelmed. Then it does it all over again. If we were lucky, we were able to catch our breath before our lives shift before our eyes and were once again grappling with what we went through while trying to find some sense of direction.
When we stay in these states, getting whipped around left and right by life, it can lead to a deep sense of sadness or despair, emptiness, and loss of motivation… Or, perhaps, it’s not so bad and you just feel a little lost, a little unsettled, a little stuck, a little unsure of what’s next or where to go from here. And you realize, this isn’t how you want to live.
So, here you are. You did it! Congratulations!! You’re done. You’re done being stuck. You’re done not knowing what to do or where you should be going. You’re over worrying and caring about everyone and everything else. You’re done letting life toss you around and throw one thing after another at you. It is time to start your journey into discovering (or rediscovering) your sense purpose and meaning in life again. It’s time to live a more fulfilling life because you’re done living half a life.
While you may not think you’ve gotten very far, you’ve already done the hardest part. Deciding you want more. You’ve chosen to take back ownership of your life. From here, it’s one foot after the other. It’s trusting yourself to take the next step and knowing that even if you fall, you can get back up and continue.
This journey, your journey, toward finding purpose and meaning in life is deeply personal. It is a uniquely individual journey toward personal fulfillment in your life. The answers you find along the way will grow and change and evolve with you. Your journey is one of exploration, experimentation, learning and living. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. This gets to be all yours.
So, where do you start?
Right here.
There are different ways we can look for and reconnect with a purpose driven life. This is not a prescription. It’s a guide, a tool for you to help you get started.
1. Pursuing Passions and Interests: Engaging in activities, hobbies, or interests that bring joy and fulfillment can provide a sense of purpose. These activities can give a sense of meaning and contribute to personal growth. Learning and growing are fundamental elements to our mental wellbeing. A few places to start (or return to) are:
Playing a musical instrument
Creating art
Volunteering
Participating in sports
2. Building Meaningful Relationships: Nurturing and cultivating relationships with family, friends, and loved ones can provide a strong sense of purpose. We all have a need to belong and contribute to those around us. Connection creates a sense of belonging and meaning in life. Do this by:
Connecting with others
Sharing experiences
Offering support
3. Helping and Serving Others: Many people find purpose in helping others and making a positive impact on their communities. Many find that shifting the focus off themselves and onto others brings about a deep sense of meaning and connection. Altruism, acting in concern and care for another’s wellbeing, leads us to recognize our shared sense of humanity and can be profoundly rewarding. It is a basic drive we humans have as social creatures. We can do this through big and small ways:
Volunteering
Engaging in acts of kindness (again big and small). A smile can change someone’s whole day.
Pursuing careers that involve helping professions (such as teaching, healthcare, or social work).
Pursuing careers that support our families or allow us to give back.
4. Setting and Achieving Goals: Working towards personal goals and milestones can give a sense of purpose and direction. Having goals and working towards them can help provide you with a sense of meaning and fulfillment. Whether it's related to:
Education,
Career,
Personal growth, or other aspects of life.
5. Embracing Spirituality or Philosophy: Exploring and embracing one's spiritual or philosophical beliefs can offer a framework for finding purpose and meaning. This may involve participating in:
Religious or spiritual practices,
Reflecting on existential questions,
Living by principles informed by deeply held values,
Finding guidance in philosophical teachings.
6. Making a Difference in the World: Engaging in activities that contribute to causes larger than oneself can instill a sense of purpose and meaning. Advocating, for example, can provide a sense of significance and impact. You can advocate for yourself and others like you or find another domain to offer support and advocacy:
Social justice,
Environmental conservation,
Or any cause that aligns with personal values
7. Self-Reflection and Personal Growth: Engaging in self-reflection, introspection, and self-discovery can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and what truly matters. Through different practices like the ones listed below, you can explore your values, beliefs, and personal growth to ultimately find greater meaning and purpose in your life.
Journaling. Yes, there is good reason everyone says to journal. It gives you a space to flush out your thoughts, organize them, and see patterns you may have missed with everything churning in your head.
Meditation. Slowing down, developing intentional focus, and learning to be with your experiences without reaction or judgement gives you space to respond in ways that align with your values, goals, and purpose.
Therapy. Having a trained professional help you better understand yourself, your values, your thoughts, your feelings (the list goes on) will help you live in alignment with your purpose. You can get feedback, figure out where you might be stuck—we all have blind spots—and learn how to regulate your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. A therapist will help you get back in the driver seat of your life and help you find the direction you truly want to go.
Seeking support from mentors or coaches. You can’t get enough feedback and support in your journey towards a fulfilled life.
Remember, this is your journey. It’s ok that it will look different from someone else’s. What brings purpose and meaning to your life most likely will be different from what brings purpose and meaning to someone else’s life. Your path to finding meaning is worth it. It’s past time to stop living half a life and it’s time to start living a fulfilled one! And hare with a friend that needs to see this!