There’s no rhyme or reason why someone might go through an existential crisis. If you think you are going through one currently, remember you are not alone in this situation. There are ways to help yourself move forward and overcome the feelings you are currently experiencing. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to defeat an existential crisis, no matter your age or personal circumstances.
The Purpose Driven Life
by Rick Warren
⏱ 14 minutes reading time
🎧 Audio version available
Talk to Someone
The worst thing you can do when you are going through a challenging time is bottled up your feelings. Instead, speak to your friends and family members and tell them how you are feeling currently. Instead of withdrawing from your regular life, try to lean into people you trust and those who care about you. You’ll feel much less lonely when you speak to someone. If you don’t feel like you have anyone in your life currently you can speak to, try to find a local therapist you can work with. Receiving input from someone else can help you put things into perspective and realize that you’ll be able to overcome how you are currently feeling.
Let Your Feelings Out
When we keep things inside, we often feel even worse in the long run. Don’t just ignore your feelings, and instead let them out by journaling, crying, or meditating. While you don’t want to overthink how you are feeling too much, it’s worth questioning what you are feeling to start to understand why you are reacting this way. Try to write down the thoughts that keep popping up in your mind, and don’t get angry at yourself for feeling this way. In time, you’ll find that releasing your feelings helps you move past how you are feeling and get back to your usual self.
Focus on the Small Joys in Life
We often spend so much of our time thinking about the big things in our life, but sometimes these are completely out of our control. We recommend focusing on the small little joys in your life, which will help you get through the most challenging days. Wake up in the morning and appreciate the delicious breakfast you get to eat or the warm bed you get to sleep in. When you start to notice the little things in life, the big challenges won’t seem quite so bad. Focus on the things you can control to help you feel more grounded during even the most uncertain times.
Meditate to Relax
When going through an existential crisis, it can often feel like our mind is playing games with us. If you can’t get your brain to stop thinking and you need to relax, meditation is one of the best tools for this. You don’t need anything fancy to get started with meditation, and you can set a timer or put some relaxing music on to get started. You’ll find that it’s one of the best ways to gain control over your thoughts again, and it will help you focus on the present moment instead of worrying about the past and the future.
Find a Support Group
There’s no shame in finding support for the challenges you are going through. Find a local support group if you can’t trust your family and friends to give you the help you need right now. You’ll find there are so many other people who are experiencing the same thing, particularly during the current state of the world. So many of us are finding ourselves lost and unsure about where we are heading in life, but with the right support and guidance, you can push through anything you are currently feeling. Support groups are a great way of meeting like-minded people and will make you feel like you aren’t alone in anything you are going through.
Find Your Purpose
One of the most common reasons for an existential crisis is a lack of purpose in your life. When you are feeling lost, it can often be difficult to wake up each morning and feel like there’s any point in anything you do. Instead, take time to reconnect to your purpose in life and find the things that bring you joy. An existential crisis often occurs when we feel our life lacks meaning. This can lead to frustration, which you can soon overcome when you focus on the greater meaning of your life. If you aren’t sure what your purpose is in life, start cultivating hobbies outside of your work and family life. You’ll soon find a reason to wake up each morning and feel inspired to tackle the challenges of your everyday life.
Seek Professional Help
While some people will be able to overcome their existential crisis with the help of their family or friends and the tools we shared above, that’s not the answer for everyone. If you feel like your feelings are more related to anxiety or depression, it’s time to seek professional help. You don’t have to go through everything in life alone, and there are many resources out there to help you. Please don’t be ashamed to seek help if you are feeling like you are drowning in your feelings. The sooner you get help, the more likely you’ll be able to find purpose and meaning in life again in the future.
There are so many reasons why someone might be having an existential crisis. Whatever the reason behind your current feelings, remember that you aren’t alone during this stage in your life. When you start to share how you feel with the world, you’ll notice other people are likely going through the same thing as you. Show yourself kindness and patience when dealing with challenging emotions, and slowly start to make small changes to your life. In no time at all, you’ll find you return to your usual self and feel like there’s more purpose in your everyday actions.
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