The Value of Integrating Existentialism and Spirituality

Existentialism and spirituality may be viewed as a contradiction. This may not be true. The two views may reveal a unified perspective. I believe you can be spiritual and have an existential perspective on life.

Existentialism and Human Experience

A core tenet of existentialism is that we exist, and we make meaning of our existence. We all share the human experience. How we make meaning of our existence is unique to all of us. It is our responsibility to discover what our meaning is in relationship to the world. How we make meaning can change throughout our lives. Our meaning is informed by our contexts, experiences, choices, and how we interpret this.

The Mystery of Spirituality

A core definition of spirituality is recognizing that there is something that transcends our embodied human existence. Spirituality is not to be confused with a religious doctrine. Spirituality can be embodied in a religion, and it can be separate from religion. Spirituality is recognizing that there is something beyond what we can comprehend with our five senses. This something is the mystery of life. We don’t enfold that mystery. The mystery enfolds us. A spiritual perspective does not mean we give up on life or abdicate responsibility for our choices. We value the mystery that is inherent in life while taking responsibility for our choices.

My Personal Journey

In my twenties, I made meaning in my life by believing I had a strong responsibility to help make the world a better place. I pushed myself hard to discover how I could do this. I traveled. I worked as an economist. I got a master’s degree in teaching. None of it resonated. I felt overwhelmed and that the whole world was on my shoulders. I felt very alone. This led to severe depression and despair. I made a suicide attempt. Afterward, I realized I had to engage differently with my life. I didn’t know how I would do that. In seeking an answer through therapy and other resources, I realized I needed to change my perspective. I realized I was putting too much pressure on myself to have all the answers. Instead, I needed to shift my thinking and recognize my appropriate level of responsibility to make the world a better place. Opening myself to the mystery of life helped me make a shift in my thinking. During this process, I became aware that one way I could make meaning and be of service to the world was to be trained as a psychotherapist, one who held an integrated view of existentialism and spirituality.

I realized if I put too much emphasis on the view that life was all about my individual responsibility and there was nothing else, I could lose sight of my not being in control of the whole picture.

If I put too much emphasis on my spirituality that is equally problematic. This could lead to spiritual bypassing, which means I abdicate my responsibility because I believe the mystery of life will take care of everything.

My spiritual-existentialist worldview was also informed by the period in my career when I provided therapy for a chemically dependent population. The 12-step program is focused on both the chemically dependent person taking responsibility for their choices in life as well as surrendering to the mystery of life. The program’s steps support the person to take conscious responsibility for their choices. The program also emphasizes surrendering to a higher power that is based on how the individual defines that power.

Überwelt and Awe-Based Consciousness

A concept introduced by van Deurzen-Smith, Ph.D., in 1984, acknowledges the spiritual aspect of being. The term for it is Überwelt. The concept of Überwelt emphasizes that the universe is larger than humanity. The concept also includes the individual's personal views and ideals in our relating to the unknown. These views and ideals can be open and flexible to new information and ways of being depending on the choices made by the individual.

A concept introduced by Kirk Schneider, Ph.D., emphasizes the importance of an awe-based consciousness. By having an awe-based consciousness, Schneider feels that awe is fluid. The concept includes feelings of wonder, dread, and adventure. We can be suffused with a sense of vulnerability and humility when we recognize the vastness of all that is. Simultaneously, we can recognize our boldness in actively embracing and engaging with the mystery of life.

An Integration

I’d like to close with two quotes that I believe, when taken together, demonstrate a unified perspective of existentialism and spirituality.

The first quote is from John Steinbeck’s book, East of Eden. It exemplifies the existential concept of the importance of responsibility. “There’s a responsibility in being a person. It’s more than just taking up space where air would be.”

The second quote is from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It exemplifies the spiritual concept that recognizes there is a mystery that transcends our embodied human existence. “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

My integration of existentialism and spirituality has helped me discover a meaning that is most fulfilling to me. I hope the idea of integrating existentialism and spirituality can be of benefit to you as you search for meaning in your life.