‘Existentialism’ at Psychology, Philosophy and Real Life

I think the story of how we can live a satisfying life is a little complicated. Our behaviour isn’t always guided by what is most immediately pleasurable, and where and how we gain satisfaction is a bit complicated too.

It seems to me that a good life is a mix of these three realms: the sensual enjoyment of the physical, the pleasure of discovering and expressing our uniqueness and the delight we take in what is beyond ourselves.

The point of contemplating our future death is to bring us back to a vivid consciousness of the here and now. The purpose is to clarify the choices we have, to have a sense of our priorities so that we can take steps to shape our lives around them.

If pleasure is the only guide, then any addict with enough money to get what they want is our model.

Not only do people surprise us, but there are usually overlooked possibilities in our situation. One way we discover this is by talking to others about a situation we are in.