It is those who walk, gazing at the sky and pondering the meaning of the stars, who find themselves stumbling into the sinkhole of existential despair
Summary: Existential angst has a better chance to arise when basic survival concerns subside, allowing for mental space for reflection on life’s deeper questions. It is an easier ailment to have amidst affluence, a privilege that allow for introspection but remains rare in survival-focused lives. Modern distractions also suppress existential inquiry, while moments of cosmic wonder, awareness of mortality, and life transitions can elicit contemplations of purpose and meaning of existence.
Have you ever wondered why some individuals wrestle with existential angst, seeking purpose and meaning in their lives, while others seem untouched by such concerns and effortlessly embracing a happy-go-lucky existence where existential despair is unlikely to surface? The answer to this intriguing puzzle might lie in the nature of existential angst itself: it is a reflective state that emerges from the unique convergence of life’s circumstances.
One explanation for this dichotomy between those who experience existential angst and those who do not is that a necessary condition for existential angst may be having a minimal level of affluence.
When individuals are consumed by the immediate demands of survival, whether it’s finding their next meal or enduring the relentless challenges of subsistence living, there is little mind space for existential questioning. The mind remains preoccupied with urgent concerns like shelter, sustenance, and survival. In such circumstances, existential angst is a luxury to have, and pursuit of purpose is secondary to the pressing realities of life’s practical challenges
Conversely, existential angst finds fertile ground in those fortunate enough to rise above the immediate demands of survival. Once basic needs are fulfilled, the mental space previously consumed by survival is liberated for introspection. In these moments of quiet reflection, the seeds of existential inquiry (and despair) can take root and flourish. A full belly, a secure home, and a stable routine pave the way for pondering the nature of existence, the mysteries of the cosmos, and one’s place within it.
Even among those who possess mental space for existential angst to take root, modern life provides an abundance of distractions
For instance, individuals may become ensnared in the relentless ‘rat race,’ consumed by the pursuit of professional success or the demands of maintaining a high-profile lifestyle, leaving little mental space for contemplating their place in the world.
Existential angst must also contend with the human tendency to favor the path of least resistance. In an age defined by technology and an endless array of entertainment, individuals have unparalleled tools to divert themselves from the practice of introspection. Activities like doom scrolling through social media, binge-watching TV shows, or mindlessly consuming online content offer effortless escapes from grappling with life’s deeper questions. These readily accessible distractions fill the vacant mental spaces in our lives, keeping existential despair at a distance. Moments that might otherwise nurture reflection are instead absorbed by fleeting and superficial engagement.
For those with the mental space for introspection, gazing upward and marveling at the cosmic alchemy above becomes a powerful catalyst for existential reflection. The stars — radiant reminders of the universe’s vastness and our own relative insignificance — can inspire a sense of wonder and existential inquiry. This glimpse of the cosmos’ grandeur compels individuals to confront questions of purpose, meaning, and their connection to the universe at large.
When mental space allows, other triggers of existential angst may also emerge. These include an awareness of our mortality and the uncertainty of what lies beyond death, prompting us to question the meaning of our finitude. Additionally, transitional moments — when one phase of life ends and the next remains unclear — can easily stir existential reflection.
The embrace of existential angst is, therefore, a phenomenon intertwined with circumstance. For some, the immediate demands of life leave no space for such reflections. For others, privileges provide mental freedom and an opportunity to explore the questions of existence.
The irony lies in the fact that it is only when one has the luxury to gaze at the stars and ponder the meaning of existence that one risks slipping into the sinkhole of existential despair. Conversely, when life is compelled or chooses to focus on the ground — whether to secure the next meal, maintain an extravagant lifestyle, or succumb to the path of least resistance — existential despair is kept at bay.
Ciao, and thanks for reading.
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