Are you existentially fatigued?
Fatigue is a funny thing. It’s complex, usually being caused by a myriad of factors. We often think of sleep quantity and quality when assessing the culprit for our chronic fatigue, and while that can be an obvious helpful place to start, it’s not the only one. Diet, movement, and vitamin D also play key roles in how energized we feel. Recreational and sometimes prescription substances can deplete the body. Some people also struggle with health conditions that greatly affect their energy levels. Stress has a way of making you feel wired and exhausted at the same time. When struggling with fatigue, you want to always check in with these more physical aspects first. No amount of therapy or self-work is going to fix your fatigue if it is coming from low vitamin D or an illness. However, are you also existentially fatigued?
Existential fatigue is simply feeling weighed down by the the world and your existence in it. This level of fatigue feels deep and unwavering. Some describe it as soul fatigue, affecting mind, body, and spirit. In my work with others, this is such a common experience. I have a theory that existential fatigue is actually at the root of many people’s fatigue, influencing their ability to truly care for themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. It affects their behaviors around the topics mentioned in the previous paragraph. There is often a sense of helplessness and powerlessness that can come with existential fatigue that can be particularly depressing in a world that often doesn’t make sense or align with our values. So how do we combat this kind of fatigue? Well, like most things, it’s individual. However, in an effort to condense my answer, radical care for yourself and community are at the core of working with this experience. I mean true care, not the surface acts that we often do. Rest, let yourself feel, play, have fun, have deep conversations, create something, connect to nature, do what is meaningful to you, help your neighbors, do something kind just for the hell of it, talk to plants, dance. Getting back to the roots of what it means to be human is a way to shake the relentless challenges of the world we live in. Connecting to yourself and others on a deep level is healing and pure magic if you ask me.
Questions to ponder.
What do I feel disconnected from on a soul level?
How can I reconnect to myself and others?
How do I create meaning in my life?
