I predictably have a measurable existential crisis after I return from a long backcountry bikepacking trip. You would think I'd have fresh ideas and renewed focus, but every time I am overcome with "what's the point of all this?" All the stuff I have, the superficial relationships, a pointless job, it's all meaningless. A lot of time in my head can produce almost hopelessness and overwhelm, yet I feel the most connected to myself when I do go away from society for a marked amount of time.

Thank you for this, Clay! Not sure if you're familiar, but this whole discussion is pretty much the Tower card in the Tarot. A structure that lent you a sense of security and stability is coming down, but it may have been built on faulty foundations. It is destabilizing, but may ultimately lead to greater freedom and realization. The next card is the Star, a card of hope, peace, freedom, and nourishing the new soil.

I like the explanation of existential crisis using stages. It makes me think about my own life in a much more understandable way

It's exactly what I'm going through right now actually, thank you Clay !

the embrace of the mystery - thank you.

So good to hear someone speak my language. I'm twice your age and an INFJ. These questions never go away and never get answered. Except, maybe psychedelics. That's where I want to go. That's the only thing that interests me any more. I agree totally about the dark humour and absurdism. Someone up there is having a right laugh about my life and I may as well smile along. It is kinda funny when you let go and look at it through this lens.

Happy New Year, Clay. Perfect breakdown. “Happy Camper” --> “Slipping, Shifting ground”--> “Sitting in The Unknown”. I’m accused of overthinking, all the time. Thanks for highlighting thought processes that are so familiar and omnipresent. Best to you. Enjoy hearing from you.

This is me right now. I just bought a house and I thought I would be excited but instead I felt like my foundation had been rocked. I had very different ideas of how my life would be just a few years ago. I also realize I wasn't fully processing everything I was going through over the last couple of years and now my body has given me no choice.

I have the painful awareness I am not fully resolved. I don't fake it. I became aware this space of nothingness was part of the alchemical metamorphic process. I may not understand where I'm at or what's next but I do have a stronger stable identity now. After looking at existentialism, nihilism then finding someone talking about anhedonia, that got me moving out of low level anxious depressed state. I also removed myself from social media, killed my big tech career, quit outdated relationships, including some family. I've focused on doing basic needs and managing physical disabilities. I go into new layers of awareness but I don't think I'm slipping back into existential crisis, rather it feels more like a cPTSD flare, a reminder I am autistic, and that I can't be in this world safely. It's not just a narrative. Elon is an Effective Altruist and does have a deeper understanding than many people can stomach. I think it scares people and they can't face many aspects of reality.

Thanks for this video! You pretty much describe me here. A lot of what you discuss here has happened to me last week. I do detest that "chasm of uncertainty" because of all the stress and overwhelm it brings. I just kind of know myself, it's coming, or I'm already in it--but then all that bloody rationalizing! Then that nihilism! I am coming to terms with myself about the INFJ thing. I suppose it has to be some sort of resolution, but if I can make that good, but, then, it's my perfectionism again, I don't like things to be "makeshift." I want it all nice and neat. I have not worked on some of my artistic endeavors for a while (I am going through some stress), but I find those can help my ability to make my own constructs, like they are helpful in the long-run. In the end I come up with little stories that are really absurd! I suppose it's "rinse-repeat" for the next time! Good luck and, again, thanks!

Things I asked myself few years back that kept coming to lime light. I got angry it doesn't affect me now I'm seeing how it does affect me. It's as if for once today ism truelly ready to take s leap I can't remember last time I became so emotional for crying. Cause I know I trust me yes me I'm going right. This time

Loved the intro! Fascinating perspective, really looking forward to the exploration of Absurdism, and the impacts of these crises on INFJs.

Being an INFJ requires an existential crisis that may not end because we are thinkers and want answers. We want them packaged in a cute box. Thinking that we ever had control in the first place is an illusion that we have to come to terms with. People who dont think much dont have existential crisis. Its the price we pay for thinking and asking why.

Clay, I came across your YT channel today & watched the “INFJ The Main Challenge” video of 3 years ago, as well as these two…… I posted you a personal message on the INFJ one just now. Please read and consider🙂

Is it our culture that makes us seek meaning? If no one in the world EVER introduced the idea of “meaning” or “purpose,” would it be inevitable someone would eventually come up with the idea?

Maybe this is the meaning of life, to know yourself.

💚💚💚

I don't nesscsrly believe in the seasons cause we are always doing self inventory an grow then we have times as in steps of grief we felty with the grief the repeat steps until we as a person feels healed. I do believe I've reached a mile stone. Now. In my life.

Hi Clay - I am an ambivert INFJ. Pretty healthy. I saw that youre in or were in a good relationship with an INFJ. How do you meet people? I have a really hard time meeting people I like, people that actually want to have a conversation. this is for friends and romantically. Any suggestions about which circles to be around????

"You can tell them things and they believe you." Now you know how one inherits the sins of the father. The cycle of feeding/eating of that forbidden fruit that leads to the judging of others.

Elon Musk is barking up the wrong tree. I'm the INFJ Sigma.

I would find it very interesting to hear about this from an INFJ point of view , see how much it resonates.😄

For now..✅