How to Deal with the Crisis of Existence

The crisis of existence occurs when your perspectives on the meaning of life, as well as your place within it, fail to bring satisfaction, direction, or inner peace. Coping with this crisis requires you to acknowledge your current state of mind, then redefine the meaning of life by reconnecting with your beliefs, focusing your energy on meaningful or creative tasks, and reflecting on the lessons you have learned thus far.

Acknowledge that you are experiencing an existential crisis. If you are questioning the purpose or meaning of life, or if the foundation of life feels weakened and unstable, you might be undergoing an existential crisis (called the "crisis of existence" because it involves concepts explored by existentialist philosophy) which may stem from:

• Feelings of loneliness or isolation in the world
• Recently realizing or contemplating the death of someone
• Believing that one’s life has no objective or inherent meaning
• Realizing one’s freedom, and the consequences of accepting or rejecting that freedom
• An extremely joyful or painful experience prompting a search for the meaning of life.

Define the meaning of life. Existentialism acknowledges that each individual has the right to determine the parameters of their own existence. Choosing to assign meaning to your life on your own, without relying on others, can help you overcome the existential crisis. Below are a few methods that may be helpful to you.

Cô lập: Loại bỏ tất cả suy nghĩ và cảm xúc thất vọng hay bi quan khỏi nhận thức của bạn và chủ động phủ nhận chúng.

Kết nối: Chống lại cảm xúc bị cô lập bằng cách "kết nối" nhận thức của bạn với các giá trị không đổi hay lý tưởng sống, như "Thiên Chúa, nhà thờ, nhà nước, sự qua đời, định mệnh, quy luật cuộc sống, con người, tương lai". Tái tập trung sự chú ý vào những việc này (cho dù bạn ủng hộ hay chống lại chúng) có thể giúp bạn cảm thấy như nhận thức của mình không bị trôi dạt, hoặc như Zapffe nói, xây "bức tường quanh không gian nhiễu động của sự nhận thức".

Gây xao nhãng: Không suy nghĩ về những điều gây phiền muộn, bằng cách tạo ra nguồn gây xao nhãng trong cuộc sống. Tập trung tất cả năng lượng vào sở thích, dự án, công việc hay các đầu ra khác để chiếm hết suy nghĩ của bạn.

Thriving: Re-channel your energy into positive, creative outlets like music, art, literature, or any activity that allows you to express your thoughts and emotions.

Understand the root causes of the problem. The cause isn't your thoughts themselves, but your attachment to them. Your thoughts (and the language they are formed in) are shaped by your surroundings, society, and your responses to experiences.

Make an effort to see your life and your place in it with its true nature. Question everything and look beyond social, political, spiritual, or personal conditions, as well as misconceptions.

Acknowledge that this is a common issue. We often feel trapped in a game orchestrated and controlled by others who have no interest in your well-being or anyone else's. When you face a crisis, it may seem that others succeed by ignoring fear and manipulating you. Study human history, how we arrived at this chaotic life, and why it continues; then form your own understanding of the next steps in life.

Is it possible that life has been carefully arranged? There seems to be a real alignment, at least on a micro level.

Stop comparing yourself to others. Your ability to experience joy will thrive once you stop comparing yourself to others, and only compare yourself to your past self when necessary. Ironically, if you could change your fate, you could make those comparisons step by step with a cold, subjective attitude.

Don't hesitate to create your own rules. Remember to discard the word 'should' – you are in charge here. (This message is also a 'should,' so take it with some skepticism.) You are the one illuminating your own values, and don't forget that these values are deeply ingrained in your body, even if they are emotional. If you're confused about 'what to do,' no one can tell you what to do anymore. This is the most exciting part of the journey... do you remember your childhood? The mystery? The adventure? The smell of new things and the feel of new fabrics? The taste of new foods? Do something to enhance your experience.

Try to shape your problem. Some people write down each sentence to help define what the issue is. Others express their thoughts and feelings through poetry. You can also write your reflections in prose.

Imagine receiving advice from other people you like or admire. Avoid those who might put you down. Try imagining your first-grade teacher, Mr. Nam, or the girl you had a secret crush on in ninth grade. They may not offer much practical help, right? But you enjoy talking to them.

Imagine giving advice to someone else in a similar situation to yours. Would you still consider it to be a major issue?

Address the problem. If you can't pinpoint your problem, it means your situation is reasonable. If the solution requires significant changes, take a few days to think about it.

• If you can't do anything to solve the problem right now, accept it. If it's late, go to sleep; if you can't sleep, find something to do, but don't watch TV or use a computer (blue light causes insomnia). Soon, you'll feel sleepy. If it's daytime, exercise or finish your tasks. Stay professional. A few achievements won't hurt anyone.

Absorb what you have learned. If after research and exploration you're still dissatisfied, remember you've gained a wealth of philosophical insights into your situation. Now you know that the desire to uncover the truth is a futile one (in philosophical terms). Since we truly don't know if existence has meaning, we can always return to assessing risk.

Try to create peace and joy. No matter what situation you find yourself in, never harm yourself or others; though it may cause you pain, it will pass. Find meaning in life through simple pleasures, using your senses. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of life to smell the roses, feel the sunlight, savor food, admire the scenery, and listen to your heart's calling. You have the power to create meaning for yourself and your life. After all, it's your life, your game, your experiment. Play the game with respect for others and approach every circumstance with all your ability. To truly succeed, you must sincerely acknowledge the help of others.

Clean the room you're in. This shows your power over the world and gives you time to address a basic issue. Don't just tidy up carelessly, but clean thoroughly. Use cleaning products.

Remember, tomorrow is a new day. It's also an opportunity for you to change your life, find happiness, and fulfillment. This power is yours—embrace it.

Ask yourself. If you're not concerned with the philosophical issue of life's despair, then you're not facing an existential crisis, because the inability to prove anything absolutely shouldn't leave you discouraged. If you're reading this page, it's because you're feeling disappointed. So you must engage with the philosophical question: why? This means you need to carefully consider what drives you, as well as when you take actions. A helpful question in this reflection process is, "If you discovered the truth and meaning of life, what would you do, think, or feel?" You may uncover a new meaning to life, or simply realize that your former goals were exactly as you had set them. In any case, if the new or old goals are unhealthy, seek support from an expert.

• Take care of your health. Drink more water to combat headaches and mood swings, and to improve brain function. A walk can offer you a fresh perspective and uplift your mood.
• If you're married or in a relationship, here's the number one rule: don't wake them up tonight if you did the same last night. They love you and have already given you the necessary advice.
• Sometimes it feels like you're swimming against the current of life instead of actually living in it. Take a moment to relax and focus. What do you truly want to live a good life? Then go ahead and do what you want.
• Accept the things (or people) that you cannot change or control.
• Find success in small things, as it will lead you to greater success.
• Don’t avoid the problem, because you’ve likely heard that life is more meaningful when you face challenges head-on.
• Be ready to support others.
• Writers like Nietzsche, Sartre, and Camus have written extensively on this subject. Depending on who you are, reading their work may either make you feel worse or better.
• Take a deep breath through your nose and exhale through your mouth; shallow breaths through the mouth are a sign of fear.
• Choose to live, forgive, learn, love, and succeed.
• Meditate.

• Don’t resort to alcohol or drugs to cope with crises. While they might provide temporary relief, this compulsive behavior will only bring more suffering in the long run, and it will hinder your ability to grow or improve your life.
• Don’t hesitate to call a helpline. They are there to assist people in situations similar to yours. Life is always tough. Help others and ask for help when needed.
• No matter what, do not attempt suicide or harm yourself. Never make permanent changes due to temporary issues: burning a one-of-a-kind novel or altering your face permanently is unacceptable. If you feel the need for drastic action, try something like dyeing your hair or doing something similarly harmless.
• Respect the existence of others. If someone or something is blocking you from achieving your goals, it’s best to devise a plan that benefits both parties. In other words, harming, disabling, or hurting others is not acceptable and can lead to self-destruction. Live and let others live. Also, if you think life is complicated, you’re not in jail. If you genuinely believe that life becomes more meaningful through hardship, feel free to disregard this advice and keep living as you are. You will certainly find profound meaning in it.