What does it mean to live a meaningful life? This question has echoed through the corridors of human history, inspiring philosophers, theologians, and psychologists alike. Meaning is not a universal prescription but a deeply personal experience—one that shapes our sense of purpose, our identity, and our engagement with the world.[1] Some find meaning in love and relationships, others in work, creativity, or service to humanity. And yet, meaning is not always self-evident. It is often born in the crucible of suffering, loss, and existential questioning.
This fundamental quest for meaning lies at the heart of existential therapy, a therapeutic approach that does not seek to “fix” individuals but rather to guide them in their search for authenticity, purpose, and self-understanding. Rooted in the philosophies of Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Viktor Frankl, existential therapy acknowledges that human beings are meaning-making creatures who must confront the realities of freedom, responsibility, isolation, and mortality.
What Is Meaning?
Meaning[2] is the thread that weaves together the fabric of human existence. It is not merely a cognitive construct but an experiential reality—one that gives coherence to our past, direction to our present, and hope for our future. Meaning allows us to endure hardship, transcend suffering, and create a life that feels worth living.
Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, argued that meaning is not something we passively receive but something we actively create. In his seminal work, Man’s Search for Meaning[3], Frankl asserted:
Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
Meaning, therefore, is not found in external circumstances but in the way we relate to them. It is not the absence of suffering but the ability to find significance within it. For Frankl, meaning was often discovered through three primary avenues:
- Experiencing love, beauty, or connection – Finding deep fulfillment in relationships, art, nature, or spiritual transcendence.
- Creative work or contribution – Engaging in purposeful action that reflects one’s values and gifts.
- Suffering and transformation – Turning pain into growth by assigning personal meaning to life’s challenges.
Existential Therapy: A Pathway to Meaning
Existential Therapy[4] is less about symptom reduction and more about helping individuals confront the fundamental dilemmas of existence. These include:
- Freedom and Responsibility – The recognition that we are free to choose our actions, thoughts, and perspectives, but with that freedom comes the weight of responsibility.
- Death and Finitude – The awareness of mortality, which can either lead to existential anxiety or a deepened appreciation for life.
- Isolation and Connection – The paradox of human existence: we are inherently alone in our subjective experiences, yet we crave connection with others.
- Meaning and Meaninglessness – The search for purpose in a universe that does not inherently provide it.
Existential therapy[5] does not impose meaning on individuals but invites them to explore what is meaningful to them. It challenges avoidance, inauthenticity, and societal scripts that hinder personal freedom. Instead of asking, What is the meaning of life? it asks, What is the meaning of your life?
Finding Meaning in the Face of Uncertainty
In today’s world, where rapid technological advancements, global crises, and existential uncertainties pervade our consciousness, many grapple with feelings of disconnection, anxiety, and purposelessness. Existential therapy offers a way forward—not by denying these struggles but by embracing them as integral to the human condition.[6]
When we face meaninglessness, we have a choice:
- We can surrender to nihilism and despair.
- We can distract ourselves with superficial pursuits.
- Or we can lean into the discomfort, wrestle with our existence, and carve out meaning through intentional living.
Meaning is not a fixed destination; it is a dynamic process that evolves with our experiences, relationships, and personal growth.[7] It is found in the small moments of connection, in the courage to face adversity, in the pursuit of one’s passions, and in the simple yet profound realization that life itself is a canvas upon which we paint our own significance.
Conclusion: The Courage to Create Meaning
Existential therapy reminds us that meaning is not given—it is made. We are not passive recipients of a predetermined fate but active authors of our own narratives. To live meaningfully is to embrace the uncertainties of life with courage, to take responsibility for our choices, and to cultivate a life that reflects our deepest values.
As Viktor Frankl eloquently stated:
Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.
In the end, meaning is not something we seek—it is something we become. And in becoming, we find not only ourselves but a profound sense of belonging in the vast, unfolding story of existence.
Would you like to help your patients and clients find freedom, authenticity, and meaning in life? If so, join us for our 8-week Existential Psychotherapy Certificate Course, held virtually starting on February 26, 2025. Click HERE to register.
[1] Metz, Thaddeus. “The concept of a meaningful life.” American philosophical quarterly 38.2 (2001): 137-153.
[2] Peterfreund, Emanuel, and Jacob T. Schwartz. “On meaning.” Psychological Issues (1971).
[3] Frankl, Viktor E. Man’s search for meaning. Simon and Schuster, 1985.
[4] Van Deurzen, Emmy. “Existential therapy.” The Handbook of Individual Therapy. sixth ed. London, England: Sage (2014): 155-178.
[5] Vos, Joël, Meghan Craig, and Mick Cooper. “Existential therapies: a meta-analysis of their effects on psychological outcomes.” Journal of consulting and clinical psychology 83.1 (2015): 115.
[6] Mata, Sherri Felts. Existential Theory: A Review of Meaning-Making in Therapy with Clients Experiencing Traumatic Bereavement. California Southern University, 2022.
[7] Maddi, Salvatore R. “Creating meaning through making decisions.” The human quest for meaning. Routledge, 2013. 57-80