35 existential questions that will make you reflect

April 1, 2024

The existential questions arise from those doubts we ask ourselves in the 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, deal with our existence and the whys of life. Be that as it may, they are issues that help us to perceive reality better and our own thoughts and desires.

Existential questions to think and reflect

In this article you can find a list of 35 existential questions that I'm sure you've ever considered and that will make you think .

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 part rational. As some researchers like Antonio Damasio indicate, emotions have such a great weight in our decisions that, although we sometimes think that our irrational part is the one that commands, 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: reaching the heart of the client"

2. How can we have healthy relationships?

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

Relationships affect us and can make us enter into an existential crisis if we are not well with our lover or in love. 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 greatest existential questions we can ask ourselves is about the meaning of our way. Getting to question this means that one is still looking for their identity . So you need to reflect on who he is, what his virtues and defects are and what is the path he 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 important, the present or the past? We can only live in the present moment, but the past accompanies us throughout our lives. Depends on how we interpret our life will help us 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 he lets himself be carried away by his emotions, without being able to detach himself from these . When someone asks this question is that they need to carry out a process of self-reflection and self-knowledge, because emotional management affects our happiness positively or negatively.

6. Why do I sometimes behave like this?

We may think that we are good people, however, at a certain time we explode because of stress at work and we pay for it with the first one that we have nearby without deserving it . Or we come home and use our partner as a scapegoat for our frustration, although this is the one that supports us most and shows us his love every day.

7. How can I change my life?

Life is not always a path of roses, and often it is necessary to reconsider and change the course, transform our path to the place where we want to be. For this, it is necessary to know oneself, challenge limiting beliefs, leave the comfort zone, set realistic goals, etc.

You can go deeper into this topic in our article: "Personal growth: how to transform your life in 6 steps"

8. Why does it cost 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 what we really possess so much. 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 in which 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. 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 mind of the human being it is impossible to imagine the way in which the universe was originated. Did we really come out of nowhere? This question can lead us to reflect on something that has a response that is certainly complex and difficult to visualize.

11. Is a life enough to live all that I have in mind?

We do not live eternally and, therefore, we must make the most of our lives . Sometimes we want to do everything and that is not possible. You have to go setting 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 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 get over it .

Related article: "The duel: facing 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: it is allowed to cry is weak, one can not get angry, etc. You have to be happy every day. This, besides being impossible, is not good for the well-being of people.

14. Who am I?

"Who am I?" Is one of those existential questions, in which one pretends to know if one has found oneself or if you have defined your path. However, if one does not know how to answer this question, it is still in the process of being searched.

Related article: "Who am I?"

15. Why do not we value the people who love us the most?

The habituation that I talked about earlier can also occur with the people around us and who love us the most. It may happen that we assume that the closest people 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 . Excessive expectations can make you extremely unhappy.

17. Is life unfair?

If we take a look around us we will realize that life is not fair . Harassments occur every day in many parts of the world, and misfortunes can happen to anyone, 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 desperate?

18. Do people change?

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

19. Why are there so cruel people?

Sometimes we can not understand how people are so cruel and capable of doing barbaric acts. The reality is that the need and the situation have great importance in how we behave with others . A study that explains this to perfection is that of Stanford Prison.

You can read about this research in our article: "The Stanford Prison Experiment of Philip Zimbardo"

20. What is the secret to being happy?

One question we have all asked ourselves is ... What is the secret to being happy? Actually, being happy all the time is impossible, but there are some keys to be able to be 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 those questions that every human being has ever asked himself is whether there will be life on other planets . We still have no answer to this question, but surely the human being will continue looking for some way of life somewhere in the infinite universe.

22. What should I study?

Many people, when they must start university, are asked 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 opt for a profession that does not motivate us or we just do not like it, we may regret the rest of our lives.

23. Should I pursue my dreams?

Another existential question is ... Should I fight for my dreams despite the difficulty or seek stability? The answer to this question is yours, but there is nothing more enriching than pursuing a dream.

24. Is there life beyond love?

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

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

The power of will power can change everything. Do not let anyone limit you and, if you have a goal between your eyebrows, go for it.

26. Where could I find emotional refuge?

A question to reflect on what really calms us.

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

Have we made reality different?

28. Do I think for myself, or prefabricated 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 leave, what will people remember about me?

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

31. Am I emotion, or am I right?

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 does this happen? What interests are behind violent conflicts between nations?

34. Does the current education system make sense?

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