/philosophy

## 75% of professionals report experiencing a chronic existential crisis and a deep loss of purpose in life and work [https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx](https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx) Look, losing your way in life is one of the loneliest things there is. We live in such a frantic rush, everyone demanding targets, results, and then when you wake up and realize you simply don't know why you're doing it anymore, it hits you hard. It feels like you failed, you know? Today's post is exactly about what’s in image_2ece6e.png: people who lost their sense of purpose and are trying to rebuild themselves the best they can. If you're in this spot, operating sort of on autopilot and feeling a strange emptiness, don't think it's the end of the world. Actually, it usually tends to be just the beginning of a cleanup that was already long overdue. ### Why do we end up losing our purpose? This almost never happens all of a sudden. It's not like you wake up one day and everything is gone. It's more like a slow wear and tear. You keep biting your tongue, putting your own tastes aside to please a boss or family, and before you know it, it's gone. There are a few classic situations where this blows up: Burnout is one of them. When work sucks your very last drop of energy and gives nothing back besides paid bills, the mind kind of shuts down so it won't crash for good. Another common thing is big changes. A divorce, kids growing up and leaving the house, or even getting fired after years at the same company. Your identity was glued to that routine, and without it, you're left not knowing who you are. And there's a scenario that few people talk about, but happens a lot: when you get what you wanted. You hustle, buy the house, grab the position you thought would change your life, and then you sit on the couch and think: "okay, was that it?". Viktor Frankl, that psychiatrist who survived concentration camps, talked a lot about how human beings need to find a real meaning to endure life's hardships. It makes a lot of sense when you stop to think about it. ### What to do to start rebuilding There's no recipe and no magic, honestly. It's a bit of a tedious job of internal archaeology. First, I think it's worth looking at what's left behind. What of your current life do you keep just out of habit or because you're afraid of what others will say if you drop it? There's almost always something we're carrying on our backs without needing to. Next, try looking at your most basic values. Purpose isn't a fancy job title or a giant goal like "getting rich before 30". It's more about what matters to you on a day-to-day basis. If you value freedom a lot, but work punching a clock in a super rigid place, things are never going to click. It's good to list what you don't compromise on (it could be family time, autonomy, creativity) and see if your routine respects that. Another thing: don't try to turn your life upside down this coming Monday. That just generates more anxiety. Focus on tiny things. Read a few pages of a book, go for a walk without putting your phone in your pocket, help someone at work without expecting anything back. These small choices gradually show your brain that you still have some control over things. The truth is that feeling lost doesn't mean you're broken or ruined. It means that the old clothes don't fit anymore because you grew. This emptiness that brings a ton of fear isn't a bottomless pit, I think it's more like a blank canvas. Going through this rebuilding is exhausting, but it's what makes you stop being just a passenger and start deciding where you want to go. In the end, the crisis ends up becoming the firmest foundation you've ever had to start over.