What is an existential crisis?

An existential crisis involves deep questioning of one's life purpose, meaning, and direction. It often emerges when individuals measure success through external markers like wealth, power, or recognition, which are ultimately unfulfilling. This crisis is particularly common among high achievers who start to feel burnout and a loss of meaning when their initial sources of satisfaction cease to motivate them 1.

Additionally, the privilege of pondering existential questions arises more in contexts where basic needs are met, allowing individuals to reflect on deeper issues like purpose and identity 2. The current societal focus on external validation, often intensified by social media, can exacerbate feelings of an existential void when these validations are stripped away or become meaningless 3.