Finding Existential Satisfaction Through Challenge

At times, I feel "out of my body." Not myself, not attuned with life, careless, diverged from my routine.

I called it "motivation running out," but that's not accurate. It's existential dissatisfaction.

It's what happens when my high standards for myself become disappointed in the consequences of my own choices, including the choice to be stagnant.

I'm glad this has a name now: "existential dissatisfaction."

But what brings me back into it? What makes me satisfied again?

I've found the answers, at least in part. I know there's always more to discover.

The answer is challenges. When I do something my soul wants to do that my body is resistant to

OR

I do something that engages me on a spiritual level. For example:

• Painting

• Writing this blog post

• Working on my Spanish

• Reading a book

• Studying in school

• 
  

Why these things? I fear they read to you as just another set of frou-frou "have healthy habits" advice.

I agree with you, this sort of advice is annoying. The saturation of it is so heavy it loses meaning.

These things work because they require engagement of several parts of me. They trigger a conversation between my brain, my body, my heart, and my soul.

Easy activities like scrolling social media or video games only engage the body. They are soulless. They just put you in a state of "not bored."

You're basically ignoring yourself. Think about it, your body gets its comfort, but the rest of you, your heart and soul, just rest dormant waiting for something important enough to come in your life and force them to get off the bench.

The examples I gave are beyond healthy activities. They are activities that support existential inclusivity.