Twenty is a transformative decade of fun, adventure, and in some cases, existential questioning. “Who am I? Why am I here? What will add meaning to my life?” These questions can either guide a person to grow or become sources of stress and anxiety that lock a person into what Viktor E. Frankl referred to as the existential vacuum. The knowledge and the application of this idea could greatly change how we deal with ourselves during the years of uncertainty and turbulence.
The Existential Vacuum in Your Twenties
Frankl’s existential vacuum, discussed in The Man’s Search for a Meaning, is particularly relevant for young adults. It is a state of meaninglessness or boredom that arises out of frustrated attempts to define your purpose. In your 20s, this can manifest as:
- Boredom: The “quarter-life crisis” emerges when people appear to be bored with their lives, unable to find meaning in the everyday.
- Distraction with Temporary Pleasures: Some adults may try to fill the vacuum with meaningless interactions, mindless scrolling on social media, unhealthy eating habits, substance use, and/or reckless behavior.
- Overworking or Overconsuming: People may immerse themselves in work or studies, striving for recognition and financial success, yet find these pursuits lack true meaning.
Finding Meaning: A Journey, Not a Destination
It is not always immediately evident to you what your meaning is; meaning is constructed out of your decisions and your actions. In your 20s, this process is far more personal, a kind of ‘coming of age’ experience. Therefore, meaning is derived out of purposeful activity, and out of suffering. Here are practical strategies to help you construct meaning and create a life aligned with your purpose:
1. Identify Your Core Values
- Consider what truly matters to you, such as creativity, family, integrity, connection, growth, and freedom. To find out what matters to you, think of the values of other people that you love as well as the hobbies you enjoy. Do they challenge you, teach you, connect you…?
- Write down your top 3-5 values, creating a “value hierarchy”.
- Then, explore how these values currently influence your life, and how you would like them to.
- Ask yourself: What would a day lived in alignment with these values look like?
2. Attach Actions to Your Values
As much as values are important, they are empty if they are not followed by action. It’s time to put your values to work. Develop a SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goal that relates to each value. Remember always that it is consistency, not perfection that is important.
- Value: Creativity → Start one personal project or dedicate 30 minutes daily to a creative pursuit.
- Value: Connection → Schedule weekly catch-ups with 3 loved ones or join a community group.
- Value: Health → Develop a consistent routine for daily exercise and mindfulness practices.
3. Create a Meaningful Vision Board for the Coming Year
Visualizing your values and goals on a board will help you gain better focus and keep you on track. When you finish with your board, put it in a strategic position where you can see it when your motivation is low, to remind you why you began in the first place.
- Materials: Gather magazines, photos, or printouts that resonate with your values and aspirations.
- Categories to Include:
- Personal growth
- Relationships
- Career
- Health
- New experiences (travel, hobbies, skills)
- Tips for Making It Meaningful:
- Tie every image or word on your board to a specific value. For instance, a picture of a book might represent your value of learning.
- Keep it realistic yet inspiring.
4. Embrace Life’s Struggles as Part of the Journey
Instead of avoiding challenges, use them to refine your values and priorities. Consider:
- Journaling Through Difficult Times: Write about how the challenges you face may add to your perspective on life or redirect you to your meaning and purpose.
- Reframing Setbacks: Failures are redirections that highlight what is important to you.
5. Stay Accountable
- Check-in Weekly: Reflect on how well your actions align with your values and adjust where needed.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Appreciate every action that leads toward the creation of a more fulfilling life.
From Existential Dread to Personal and Professional Development
It may be the biggest challenge of life, yet it is what makes life worthwhile. In your 20s, this search is linked with the process of individual and occupational growth. Finding your purpose, finding authentic friends, and being loyal to your principles can make this decade a time of transformation.
Moreover, meaning is not given by avoiding suffering but by finding meaning in suffering. If you can manage to turn the ambiguity of the twenties into a meaningful life, you are free from meaninglessness.
“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” — Viktor E. Frankl.
Author: Nour Abi Fadel, Logotherapy & Business Psychology Expert | Brain-Mind-Body Approach to Personal & Professional Growth
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1 Comment
This article was extremely insightful! It helps me and other young people I’m sure understand what their proirities really are by reflecting on their values. Thank you for this; it helped me take a step back and reprioritize what matters to me most!
I’d love to see more like this!