40 existential questions that will make you think

Philosophizing is easier with this list of questions to expand our mind.

Existential questions arise from those doubts we ask ourselves in the search of our conscience and essence. and essence.

They are questions that often require a deep work of self-reflection, and other times they are questions that, as their name suggests, deal with our existence and the whys and wherefores of life. Either way, they are questions that help us to better perceive reality and our own thoughts and desires.

Existential questions for thought and reflection

In this article you can find a list of existential questions that you have surely asked yourself at some time and that will make you reflect.. Let's take a look at them and put our most genuine curiosity to work.

1. How do we know if we are doing the right thing?

Making decisions is not always easy. On the one hand we have our emotional side, and on the other hand our rational side. As indicated by researchers such as Antonio Damasio, emotions have such a great weight in our decisions that, although we sometimes think that our irrational part is the one in charge, emotions almost decide for us.

• If you want to find out more about the influence of emotions in our decisions, I advise you to take a look at our article: "Emotional Marketing: getting to the Heart of the customer".

2. How can we have healthy relationships?

Relationships are difficult. Just look at the data from a study conducted by Eurostat (the European statistics office): in Spain there are fewer and fewer marriages, as they have fallen by 56% in the last 50 years. According to the General Council of Notaries, for every marriage there are two divorces in this country..

Relationships affect us and can cause us to enter into an existential crisis if we are not in good terms with our lover. Learning to be happy in a relationship is something that requires learning and deep reflection.

3. What is the meaning of life?

One of the biggest existential questions we can ask ourselves is about the meaning of our life. To come to question this means that one is still searching for his or her identity.. So you need to reflect on who you are, what are your strengths and weaknesses and what is the path you should take in life.

4. How do we measure success in life?

How do we measure our success in what areas of our life? What matters, the present or the past? We can only live in the present moment, but the past accompanies us throughout our life. Depending on how we interpret our life will help us to enjoy greater well-being. The healthiest thing to do is to focus on the here and now.

5. Why do I feel this way?

Not everyone is emotionally intelligent and gets carried away by their emotions without being able to detach themselves from them.. When someone asks this question, he/she needs to carry out a process of self-reflection and self-knowledge, because emotional management affects positively or negatively our happiness.

6. Why do I sometimes behave this way?

We may think that we are good people, however, at a certain moment we explode because of the stress in our lives. we explode because of stress at work and we take it out on the first person we meet without them deserving it.. Or we come home and use our partner as a scapegoat for our frustration, even though he or she is the one who supports us the most and shows us love on a daily basis.

7. How can I change my life?

Life is not always a bed of roses, and many times it is time to rethink and change course, transforming our lives to go to the place where we want to be. For this, it is necessary to know oneself, challenge limiting beliefs, get out of the comfort zone, set realistic goals, etc.

• You can learn more about this topic in our article: "Personal growth: how to transform your life in 6 steps".

8. Why do I find it hard to value things?

The human mind is made in such a way that we become accustomed to the things we have.. It is normal that, with time, we no longer value so much what we really have. That is why it is necessary to avoid a consumerist mentality, because we will never be satisfied with what we have and we will always want more.

9. Are we in control of our lives?

Surely, we have all gone through some moments when we needed to make important decisions or we were in a learning process. This is totally normal and the uncertainty of the moment can make our self-esteem suffer. However, these moments are necessary to go where we want to go. Getting out of the comfort zone is synonymous with personal growth.

10. Is the Big Bang theory true?

Although science seems to have found evidence of the Big Bang, in the human mind it is impossible to imagine how the universe came into being. Did we really come from nothing? This question may lead us to reflect on something that has an answer that is certainly complex and difficult to visualize.

11. Is one life enough to live everything I have in mind?

We do not live forever and, therefore, we must make the most of our lives.. Sometimes we want to do everything and that is not possible. We have to set priorities.

12. Is there life after death?

One of the most important existential questions has to do with death. It is difficult for human beings to think that there is nothing. Thinking about one's own death causes tremendous discomfort, and when it is necessary to face the death of a loved one it becomes very difficult to accept. Many people need to attend therapy to overcome it..

13. Am I weak if I show my emotions to others?

We live in a society that has educated us in such a way that showing our emotions to others is a symptom of weakness: it is allowed to cry is weak, one cannot get angry, etc. You have to be happy every day. This, besides being impossible, is not good for people's well-being.

14. Who am I?

"Who am I?" is one of those existential questions, in which one tries to know if one has found oneself or if one has defined one's path. or if he has defined his path. However, if one does not know the answer to this question, one is still in the process of searching.

15. Why don't we value the people who love us most?

The habituation of which I spoke previously can also occur with the people who surround us and who love us most. It can happen that we take for granted that the people closest to us will always be there for us. This means that we sometimes disregard them and tend to undervalue them..

16. What do we need in this life?

We often think that material things are what we need, but we need less than we think we need, we need less than we think. Expectations that are too high can make you tremendously unhappy.

17. Is life unfair?

If we take a look around us, we will realize that life is not fair.. Every day barbarities happen in many parts of the world, and misfortunes can happen to anyone, as they are part of life. To enjoy greater emotional well-being, you have to focus on the present, love yourself and practice acceptance. What to do when you feel hopeless?

18. Do people change?

It may happen that at some point in our lives, someone who has done no harm, promises to change. But can people change? can people change? Of course they can. But it depends on them.

19. Why are some people so cruel?

Sometimes we don't understand why some people are so cruel and capable of barbaric acts. The reality is that need and situation have a great influence on how we behave towards others.. One study that explains this perfectly is the Stanford Prison study.

• You can read about this research in our article: "Philip Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment".

20. What is the secret to happiness?

A question we have all asked ourselves at some time is.... what is the secret to being happy? Actually, being happy all the time is impossible, but there are some keys to be happy that you can check in this article: "The 10 keys to be happy, according to science".

21. Will there be life on other planets?

One of the questions that every human being has ever asked is whether there will be life on other planets.. We still do not have an answer to this question, but we are sure that human beings will continue to search for some form of life somewhere in the infinite universe.

22. What should I study?

Many people, when they have to start university, ask themselves an existential question about their future.. Choosing a career and a profession is, without a doubt, a decision that will mark our future and our well-being. If we choose a profession that does not motivate us or that we do not like, we may regret it for the rest of our lives.

23. Should I pursue my dreams?

Another existential question is... Should I fight for my dreams in spite of the difficulty or should I seek stability? The answer to this question is up to oneself, but there is nothing more enriching than pursuing a dream.

24. Is there life beyond love?

Another of the great unknowns: do we need love to survive?

25. How far could I go if I wanted to?

The power of willpower can change everything. Don't let anyone limit you and, if you have a goal in mind, go for it.

26. Where could I find emotional refuge?

A question to reflect on what really calms us.

27. If it were to disappear today, how would the world change?

Have we made reality different?

28. Do I think for myself, or do prefabricated speeches speak through my mouth?

To what extent are our ideas really ours?

29. At what moments is violence justified?

Contexts can affect our ethical scales in such important aspects as physical important aspects such as the physical integrity of people? of people?

30. When I leave, what will people remember about me?

What mark do we leave on others, and will anyone remember us once we are gone?

31. Am I emotion, or am I reason?

This duality serves to explain our personality.

32. Can I be happy without the people around me?

An existential question to know to what extent we are independent.

33. Why do wars happen?

Violence is undesirable, but we are in a context in which war conflicts are constantly arising. Why does this happen? What are the interests behind violent conflicts between nations?

34. Does the current educational system make sense?

Does it make sense for a five-year-old child to spend several hours a day sitting and listening to explanations from his teacher? What would be a form of education more in line with the values of today's society?

35. Why do we consider that dreams are imaginary fictions? Could they, in some sense, be more real than reality itself?

Perhaps it seems a somewhat risky consideration, but if we stop to think... perhaps reality can be reinterpreted.

36. Am I my consciousness?

What is the nature of consciousness? Is it that which defines us as individuals?

37. How does my belief system limit me?

Personal beliefs can become limits to our personal development.

38. Do good and evil exist as objective things?

Is there a right way to behave beyond our opinions?

39. Does my life plan exist beyond improvisation?

That is, do we really live according to personal projects, or are they just a useful fiction?

40. Is it possible to blame someone for his actions, if freedom does not exist?

One of the most commented existential questions is the relationship between determinism and responsibility.