About Existential Living
Existential Living is a blog dedicated to the process of meaning making in life.
​
For some, the meaning of life is not clear or objective. Rather, we find ourselves thrown into a world that we did not ask to be brought into, and we are expected to navigate our way through it.
​
Throughout this process of living, we experience personal struggles that affect us in the deepest levels of our being. Those struggles can comprise of difficult relationships, despair, existential dread, angst, trauma, anxiety, grief, aimlessness, moral conflict, crises of identity, and so much more. Of course, there are good things we experience, too, but it is often the difficulties in life that we desire to make meaning of the most.
​
The goal of Existential Living, then, is to talk about what it means to make meaning in life, or what that process can look like. This can (and will) take many different shapes over its course. At times, this may be how a specific form of art (like television or a movie) speaks to me, or reveals something profound; other times, this may be how philosophical ideas are represented by public figures or various forms of media.
​
What you will find in this blog are honest thoughts, reflections, experiences, and pieces of internal dialogue that I use to make meaning in my own life. If I tell I story, the story is almost certainly true, but many inconsequential details (like names and places) are false.
​
I cannot offer you solutions to your problems, but I can offer you perspectives that I consider when I'm working through my own problems. My only hope in this endeavor is that regardless of how you found this blog, that something I say resonates with you in a way that brings some perspective you are looking for.
​
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for entertainment and opinion purposes only. This blog is not advice. I am not a doctor, therapist, or any type of individual that can offer any professional service for your well being. If you are experiencing depression, suicidal ideation, or other serious medical conditions, please seek professional help.
About the Author
My name is Jakob and I am the founder of Existential Living.
​
I am a thinker at heart, determined to solve problems and find answers to questions. My love for philosophy was a natural development throughout my life as I could not help but ask "Why?" or "How?" to a litany of metaphysical questions. Those same questions would eventually cascade into a philosophy degree and several existential dilemmas that took me several years to find some footing in. Those questions and I are still a work in progress, but that's what this blog is, in one sense, all about.
​
I am a big fan of instrumental music or music with contemplative and reflective lyrics. Some of my favorite bands include Dream Theater, The National, Explosions in the Sky, The Airborne Toxic Event, and Ghost.
​
I also enjoy traveling, (some) movies, first person shooter games, sparkling water, and a comfortable pair of gym shorts.
​
My favorite philosopher is Søren Kierkegaard, followed by Baruch Spinoza.
