The human life journey is more than a mere biological process; it is a continuous voyage of seeking, questioning, and reconstruction. Life’s turning points such as birth, adolescence, graduation, marriage, loss, illness, and even birthdays serve as moments of existential confrontation. This confrontation often revolves around fundamental questions such as: “Who am I? What is the meaning of my life? Which path should I follow next?”
Existential psychology emphasizes that facing these questions is inevitable and suggests that this confrontation can play a transformative role in personal development.
The Search for Meaning in Existential Psychology
Viktor Frankl (1963), one of the pioneers of the existential psychology approach, stated that the primary motivation of human beings is the “will to meaning.” According to Frankl, no matter how harsh life’s circumstances become, people need a sense of meaning in life to sustain their existence.
In his seminal work Man’s Search for Meaning, in which he recounts his experiences in Nazi concentration camps, Frankl emphasized that even in the most hopeless conditions, those who managed to survive shared one common feature: a strong sense of purpose.
This search for meaning in life can manifest in various forms — through productive work, loving relationships, or even through finding value within suffering itself.
Abraham Maslow (1943) conceptualized human development through a hierarchical pyramid of needs, emphasizing “self-actualization” at its highest level. According to Maslow, self-actualized individuals find meaning in creativity, productivity, and authentic existence. In this sense, life’s turning points can be seen as crucial transitions that enable individuals to move from lower-level needs toward higher-level purposes.
Similarly, Carl Rogers (1961) highlighted the human tendency toward “self-actualization” and underlined the importance of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness for living an authentic life. For Rogers, life’s turning points present opportunities for individuals to reconstruct their sense of self. Life’s breaking moments may reveal themselves as either the development of inner resilience after a loss or the courage to begin anew.
The Psychological Function of Turning Points
Life’s turning points are not merely chronological milestones; they are moments when individuals reevaluate, consolidate, or transform their sense of self. Psychologically, these processes can be understood through three primary functions:
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Reflection and Evaluation – Looking back on past experiences helps individuals make sense of themselves.
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Direction Setting – Turning points serve as critical moments when people reassess their life paths and set new goals for the future.
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Meaning Reconstruction – Confronting challenges allows individuals to ascribe new meanings to their lives.
Rollo May (1983) described this process through the concept of creative anxiety. He argued that the anxiety felt during life’s critical thresholds can propel individuals out of stagnation toward a more authentic existence. Thus, anxiety is not merely a negative emotion but a vital source of motivation for transformation.
The Healing Power of Meaning
Research indicates that individuals who possess a sense of meaning in life demonstrate greater resilience to stress and lower levels of depression and anxiety (Frankl, 1963; Wong, 2012). Studies on people experiencing traumatic loss, for example, show that those who are able to make sense of their loss tend to navigate the grieving process more healthily.
A sense of meaning in life not only enhances psychological well-being but also nurtures social connectedness. A person who finds meaning in life tends to adopt a more productive and compassionate stance toward both self and others.
Modern psychology continues to underscore the therapeutic power of meaning. Positive psychology, which focuses on individual strengths to enhance life satisfaction, recognizes meaning in life as a central component of well-being. In Seligman’s “well-being” model, having a meaningful purpose stands out as one of the most influential factors supporting subjective well-being.
Every Turning Point is a New Beginning
The search for meaning in life is the most fundamental and enduring journey of human existence. Life’s turning points are the pivotal moments of this journey. Existential psychology shows us that the anxiety and questioning felt during these times can open the doors to a more authentic and meaningful life.
Each birthday, each loss, each new beginning is not merely an ending, but also an opportunity for rebirth. A graduation ceremony is not just the conclusion of an academic path but the beginning of new responsibilities. A marriage is not only a union between two people but the foundation of a new family and a shared life. Similarly, a loss is not merely a farewell; it also leaves behind a valuable legacy for those who remain — a reminder of life’s fragility and the meaning that can be found within it.
Conclusion
The quest to make sense of one’s existence is both humanity’s greatest responsibility and its most profound privilege. A life imbued with meaning in life holds the potential not only to transform the individual but also to influence the surrounding world. Life’s turning points, therefore, are not the endpoints of life’s journey; they are the beginnings of new paths, discoveries, and meanings.
To perceive every turning point not as an ending but as a beginning — to transform anxiety into creativity, uncertainty into hope, and hardship into inner strength — is perhaps the most precious achievement in one’s journey through life.
References
Frankl, V. E. (1963). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346
May, R. (1983). The discovery of being: Writings in existential psychology. W. W. Norton.
Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin.
Wong, P. T. P. (2012). The human quest for meaning: Theories, research, and applications. Routledge.