40 existential questions that will make you reflect

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

These are questions that often require a deep work of self-reflection, and other times they are questions that, as the name suggests, are about our existence and the why's of life. Be that as it may, they are issues that help us to better perceive reality and our own thoughts and desires.

Existential questions to think about and ponder

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 see 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 part, and on the other hand our rational part. As some researchers such as Antonio Damasio indicate, emotions have such a great weight in our decisions that, although sometimes we think that our irrational part is the boss, emotions almost decide for U.S.

• If you want to find out more about the influence of emotions on our decisions, I advise you to take a look at our article: "Emotional Marketing: reaching the customer's heart”

2. How can we have healthy relationships?

Relationships are difficult. You only have to look at the data of a study carried out by Eurostat (the office of European statistics): in Spain there are fewer and fewer marriages, as they have fallen by up to 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 make us enter into a relationship existential crisis if we are not well with our boyfriend or girlfriend. 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 path. Getting to question this means that one is still searching for their 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 is it that matters, the present or the past? We can only live in the present moment, but the past accompanies us throughout our lives. It depends on how we interpret our life, it will help us to enjoy greater well-being. The healthiest thing 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 from them. When someone asks this question, it is that they need to carry out a process of self-reflection and self-knowledge, because the emotional management positively or negatively affects our happiness.

6. Why do I sometimes behave like this?

We may think that we are good people, however, at a certain point We explode because of stress at work and we pay for it with the first one we have nearby without deserving it.. Or we come home and use our partner as a scapegoat for our frustration, even though this is the one who supports us the most and shows us his 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 necessary to reconsider and change course, transform ourselves to go to the place where we want to be. To do this, you need to know yourself, challenge limiting beliefs, get out of your comfort zone, set realistic goals, etc.

• You can delve into this topic in our article: "Personal growth: how to transform your life in 6 steps”

8. Why is it difficult for me to value things?

The human mind is made in such a way that we get used to the things we have. It is normal that, over time, we no longer value so much what we really possess. That is why it is necessary to avoid a consumer 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 cause our self-esteem to suffer. However, these moments are necessary to go where we want to go. Leaving 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 originated. Did we really come out of nowhere? This question can 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 life. Sometimes we want to do everything and that is not possible. You 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 the human being 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 therapy to get over it..

• Related article: "Grief: coping with the loss of a loved one”

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

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

14. Who I am?

"Who I am?" is one of those existential questions, in which one wants to know if he has found himself or if you have defined your path. However, if you do not know how to answer this question, you are still in the process of searching.

• Related article: "Who I am?”

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

The habituation of which I spoke previously can also occur with the people around us and who love us the most. It can happen that we take for granted that the people closest to us will always be there for us. This means that sometimes we do not take them into account and we tend to underestimate them.

16. What do we need in this life?

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

17. Is life unfair?

If we take a look around us we will realize that life is not fair. Every day atrocities occur 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 must focus on the present, love yourself, and practice acceptance. What to do when you feel desperate?

18. People change?

It may happen that at some point in our life, someone who has not done harm, promises us that they will change. But, Can people change? Obviously yes. Now it depends on them.

19. Why are there such cruel people?

Sometimes we fail to understand how there are people so cruel and capable of barbaric acts. The reality is that the need and the situation have great importance in how we behave with others.. One study that explains this perfectly is that of Stanford Prison.

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

20. What is the secret to being happy?

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

21. Will there be life on other planets?

One of those 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 surely the human being will continue looking for some form of life somewhere in the infinite universe.

22. What should I study?

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

23. Should I chase my dreams?

Another existential question is... Should I fight for my dreams despite the difficulty or seek stability? You have the answer to this question yourself, but there is nothing more enriching than chasing 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. Do not let anyone limit you and, if you have a goal between eyebrows, go for it.

26. Where could you find emotional refuge?

A question to reflect on what really calms us down.

27. If it disappeared today, how would the world change?

Have we made reality different?

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

To what extent are our ideas really ours?

29. At what times is violence justified?

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

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

What mark do we leave on others? Will someone remember us once we are gone?

31. Am I emotion, or am I reason?

This duality serves to explain our personality above.

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 do not stop arising. Why is this happening? What interests are behind violent conflicts between nations?

34. Does the current educational system make sense?

Does it make sense for a five-year-old to spend several hours a day sitting, listening to explanations from her teacher? What would be a way of educating more in line with the values ​​of today's society?

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

It may seem like 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 what defines us as individuals?

37. How does my belief system limit me?

Personal beliefs they can become limits to our personal development.

38. Do good and evil exist as something objective?

Is there a correct way to behave beyond our opinions?

39. Does my life plan exist beyond improvisation?

That is, do we really live by personal projects, or are these just a useful fiction?

40. Can someone be blamed for his actions, if freedom does not exist?

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