The Core “Ultimate Concerns” of Human Existence: Death, Meaninglessness, Isolation, and Freedom — Use Them to Take Agency Over Your Life

Momento Mori, Momento Vivere: Remember that you must die; remember to live.

Let’s cut through the noise—your stress, burnout, and that gnawing feeling of dissatisfaction aren’t just byproducts of a demanding career. They’re symptoms of something deeper: existential health.

Before you roll your eyes and assume this is just another philosophical rabbit hole, let’s get real. If you’re a high achiever grinding through long hours, chasing goals, and feeling the relentless pressure of success, you’re already confronting life’s biggest questions—whether you realize it or not. The way you handle them can make or break your well-being, performance, and long-term happiness.

Existential health isn’t about abstract philosophy—it’s about how well you navigate the four unavoidable realities of being human. Irvin Yalom, a pioneer in existential psychotherapy, calls these the “ultimate concerns”:

1. Death – The clock is ticking, whether you acknowledge it or not.

2. Meaninglessness – What’s the real purpose behind all your effort?

3. Isolation – No matter how connected you are, some experiences are yours alone.

4. Freedom – The weight of making choices—and owning them.

Ignoring these doesn’t make them disappear. It just means they’ll manifest as chronic stress, burnout, or that creeping sense that no achievement is ever enough. The good news? When you take control of your existential health, you gain a competitive edge in life and work—one that most professionals overlook.

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How to Strengthen Your Existential Health (Without Quitting Your Job and Moving to a Remote Cabin)

The key to handling existential concerns isn’t escape—it’s active engagement. Here’s how to face these four realities in a way that enhances—not sabotages—your performance and well-being.

1. Death: Use Mortality as a Performance Enhancer

Instead of fearing death, let it sharpen your focus. You don’t have infinite time—so how are you spending it?

• Perform a ‘Time Audit’ – Track how you actually spend your days. Then ask: If I had one year left, would I still be doing this?

• Ditch the “Someday” Mentality – Stop postponing the things that matter. If you wouldn’t be okay dying tomorrow without having done X, schedule it now.

• Build Your “Regret-Proof” Life – Research shows people regret inaction more than bad decisions. Make bold moves now, not later.

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2. Meaninglessness: Define Your Own Scorecard for Success

High achievers are great at chasing external validation. But true meaning? That’s an inside job.

• Write Your Own Obituary – Morbid? Maybe. But writing out what you want your life to have stood for is a powerful way to realign your priorities.

• Quit the Achievement Treadmill – If success still leaves you empty, you’re measuring the wrong thing. Redefine success in terms of impact, relationships, and experiences.

• Make Work Meaningful – If your job isn’t giving you purpose, find ways to inject it—mentorship, problem-solving, creative innovation, or even pivoting careers.

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3. Isolation: Prioritize Deep Connections Over Networking

Busy professionals often mistake networking for true connection—but shaking hands at industry events won’t solve existential loneliness.

• Audit Your Social Energy – Are your interactions meaningful or just transactional? Invest in relationships that go beyond LinkedIn likes.

• Have More “Deathbed Conversations” – Talk about real things with people who matter. Skip the small talk and get to what actually connects humans.

• Be Fully Present – Put the phone down. Look people in the eye. Nothing deep happens when you’re half-distracted.

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4. Freedom: Own Your Choices (Instead of Letting Them Own You)

Having choices is liberating—until you feel paralyzed by the pressure to choose correctly. High achievers often struggle with decision fatigue because they fear making the “wrong” move. Newsflash: There is no perfect choice—just choices you fully commit to.

• Decide and Move – Overthinking is just procrastination in disguise. Make the best decision you can with the info you have, then act.

• Say No More Often – Every yes is a no to something else. Guard your time like it’s your most valuable asset—because it is.

• Take Radical Responsibility – If something in your life isn’t working, own it. Then change it. Blame is a distraction; action is power.

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Final Thoughts

Here’s the kicker: The professionals who face these existential concerns head-on don’t just survive—they thrive. They work with sharper focus, lead with more authenticity, and avoid the mid-life (or quarter-life) crisis that wrecks so many ambitious careers.

Existential health isn’t about sitting around contemplating life’s mysteries. It’s about making deliberate choices that help you show up fully engaged, deeply connected, and completely in control of your own life.

And if that’s not the ultimate performance hack, I don’t know what is.

Need Help? For the High Achiever Asking, “What’s the Point of All This?”
You’ve climbed the ladder, chased the titles, hit the goals—so why does it still feel empty?
Existential health is about meaning, not metrics.
💡 Let’s reconnect you with your “why.” Book your free 20-minute consult today.

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Article References

The sources cited in the article:

1. National Institutes of Health (NIH). "Suffering a Healthy Life— On the Existential Dimension of Health." NIH - Existential Health

2. Positive Psychology (PP). “Existential Crisis: How to Cope With Meaninglessness.” PP - Existential Crisis

3. WebMD. "What Is Existential Therapy?" WebMD - What Is Existential Therapy?

4. Verywell Mind (VM). "What to Know About Existentialism- Philosophy and Existential Therapy.” VM - Existentialism

5. Greater Good Berkeley. “The Four Keys to a Meaningful Life.” Berkeley - Four Keys to a Meaningful Life