Existential Anxiety Via Self Preservation Essay

My top five theories are Gestalt, Reality, Person Centered, Existential and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Within these five theories my top five aspects that I would like to incorporate into my own personal model of counseling is as follows: 1.) From Gestalt therapy I would incorporate staying with the feeling and use experiments along with internal dialogue exercises (Corey, 2013). The aspect of getting to the root of unfinished business in regards to impasse is appealing in regards to this theory as well as the idea that it moves the client to a place where they are more confident asking for help (Corey, 2013) 2.) From the Reality Therapy approach I would incorporate the WDEP technique (Corey, 2013). I feel that it is of the most importance to recognize what one wants from his or her life and to be able to verbalize and have an action based, planned path that moves one towards the goal (Corey, 2013). 3.) From the Person Centered Approach I would incorporate genuineness, unconditional positive regard and accurate empathic understanding (Corey, 2013). In regards to the therapeutic process when working with people in crisis I believe this model is most effective (Corey, 2013). 4.) From an Existential Therapy approach I would incorporate the aspect of guiding the client to a place of awareness. I believe being aware of why one is not living their life fully is very important to moving a person toward making choices that will get them to a life that is more authentic to who

“We define existential mattering (EM) as the degree to which individuals feel that their existence is of significance and value; to feel a sense of EM is to feel that one’s existence is important and relevant.” (39) Demonstrated by Batthyany et al. definition of existential mattering, is the importance of self-awareness, a theme that perpetuates through Antonioni’s L’Avventura. Anna, Sandro and Claudia, three of the characters of interest in Antonioni’s film, are in constant limbo with their self-awareness and seem as if they are unable to achieve conscious, rational self-evaluation. Throughout this text, we will evaluate the existential anxieties of Anna, Sandro and Claudia as presented through the narrative and filmography of L’Avventura.

The movies Avatar and District 9 are perfect examples of science fiction movies that have been created and highlight the different kinds of conflicts that one can relate to in the current world that we live in. Both movies have a similar setting in that both of them have incorporated the aspect of extraterrestrial forms of life in the screenplay. Most critics heap particular praise to the way the movies have been produced, directed and how the actors portray the various individual characters in the movies. An important characteristic that is well brought out in both movies is the existential anxiety or crisis that is described by the characters. This paper is aimed at summarizing the two films and clearly highlighting the existential anxiety

meaning worth living for. They are haunted by the experience of their inner emptiness, a void

“If I convince myself that this life has no other aspect than that of the absurd, if I feel that its whole equilibrium depends on that perpetual opposition between my conscious revolt and the darkness in which it struggles, if I admit that my freedom has no meaning except in relation to its limited fate, then I must say that what counts is not the best living, but the most living...”

John Locke believed, the enduring self is defined by a person’s memory. With memory there is an enduring self, and without it there is no self at all. I believe there is an enduring self, but it is a little more complicated than that. Even if a person encounters a dramatic change to his/her life, they are still the same self, the same person. I believe memory is not the only factor that defines the self. Many things form this enduring self, and these things work together to form an identity, to form who you are now. These things are your memories, your experiences and your personality. You may change and grow over time as you are exposed to new experiences, but under it all you are still ....you. But is a

Existential angst is the part of the modern people’s lives. Every day when we wake up, we think that we can decide how to continue our days. However, besides us, there are billions of people on earth who wake up every day and decide how to continue their days. This is the point where existential angst starts to bother us. This is the point where we start to be dreading of external circumstances because some of the aforementioned people’s vital decisions cross our decisions and don’t let them be accomplished. In other words, there is a conflict between what we want from the universe and what we find in the universe. So, under those circumstances, can we find happiness in our daily lives? I have always believed that happiness can be achieved even under existential angst.

“Existential angst prevents the protagonist from fulfilling his individual purpose.” This quote is justifiable to the extent that if a man views his existence as meaningless they tend to overlook and reject their point of living. According to sartre essence is a factor that classifies a being as existing. Thus, if one is in the state of angst they believe that their existence has no essence. Further more they lack enthusiasm and motivation that they need to achieve their individual purpose. In “The stranger,” Albert Camus depicts the life of a strange man whose absurd decisions averted him from achieving his individual effort. Similarly in “the myth of Sisyphus,” ———

Perhaps the most telling symptom of existentialist philosophers is their ever-divergent theories on the fundamental characteristics of human life and their steadfast refusal to assign an explicit meaning or reason to our existence at all. Contrary to criticism which therefore labels the movement cynically nihilistic, existentialism justifies life with reasoning similar to that of Zen Buddhism. Specifically, the notions of hopelessness and absurdity can be gleaned from Buddhism in a manner helpful to the understanding of existentialist viewpoints on the same.

In The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays, author and philosopher Albert Camus develops the theme of existentialism through his ideas of the absurd, suicide, and hope. By addressing prominent questions such as “what does it mean to live?” and “what is my real identity?”, Camus emphasizes that the true “purpose” in life is to embrace the freedom of being able to choose how we define our lives, even if life ultimately has no meaning. In this research paper, I wanted to further analyze Camus’ ideas, along with my other sources, to address the question: “should you embrace the given elements in your life or revolt against them in order to define your life”? To Albert Camus and his inspiration Jean-Paul Sartre, the answer to this question is

This famous quote summarizes the gloomy philosophy of existentialism. Schopenhauer, using this philosophy, believed that the universe was meaningless and irrational, and that his irrational life was full of choices that brought him in contact with the nothingness of the universe. Existentialism has no definite description because individuals create their own meaning by making sense of the world as it pertains to the individual. While individuals create their own meaning, there are several common themes that are followed. These themes fall under the general idea that reality is absurd and it is the responsibility of humans to make their own choices and accept the consequences of these choices in regard to the individual’s experience. Some

“The existential theory is concerned for the personal "commitment" of this interesting existing unique in the "human circumstances”.

In the case of Stan at the fifth existential therapy session, I found the therapy very positive for Stan, the client. The connection Stan had with Dr. Corey, the therapist, seemed comfortable and Stan opened up more during the session. I liked when Dr. Corey kept asking Stan to talk a little more about his father’s hospital visit. Stan revealed, he felt selfish for thinking he wanted his Dad to see him finish his degree when his Dad might die. Dr. Corey used that statement as a positive and encouraged Stan that feeling the way he felt and was okay. I felt Dr. Corey made such a connection when he listened and reiterated what Stan told him about the way he felt and what was bothering him. In turn, Stan seemed better at the end of the session.

When discussing existentialism, there are a few different ways that the term can be defined. Frankl believed that existentialism could be defined as existence itself, as what existence means, and it can also be defined as struggling to find meaning in one’s personal existance (Frankl, 1959). An existential crisis occurs when someone questions the meaning of his or her life. No matter where a person is in life, there is always a chance of experiencing an existential crisis, or crisis or meaning, when an individual is faced with the concept of death (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2012). Another way that a person can experience existential crises is when they are challenged to establish a sense of self and what they believe the meaning of their life is (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2012).

“The human race is but a monotonous affair. Most of them labour the greater part of their time for mere subsistence; and the scanty portion of freedom which remains to them so troubles them that they use every exertion to get rid of it. Oh, the destiny of man!”