Chapter 2

Centering and Integrating

    Instead of remaining lost in the fun-house of interesting things to do
(watching television, eating, reading the newspaper, going on vacation)
or in the ready-made commitments approved by society
(working hard at worthy jobs, raising a good family),
we can grow beyond responsible adulthood and conventional maturity
to become unified, centered, integrated, and whole persons
by carefully selecting and consistently pursuing new life-meanings.
These comprehensive choices become the core of our self-creating selves.

    The quest for Authenticity focuses on the quality of living today.
Are we using our time (the substance of our lives) in the best way?
In this week of our lives, will we actualize our highest potentialities?
Whatever high-minded ideals we may theoretically embrace,
our real identities as human persons is revealed by what we pursue,
how we—even today—focus and integrate our lives
or how we remain distracted captives of our enculturation.

9a. Hide from our Existential Predicament.
    Our Existential Predicament or Existential Malaise is:
fear when there is nothing to be afraid of,
meaninglessness even when we have accomplished much,
depression without a specific reason for feeling 'down',
insecurity when we are objectively protected and safe,
loneliness amid good relationships,
and despair without reason for losing hope.

    This Existential Dilemma must be carefully distinguished
from all problems that can be traced to specific circumstances.
Interpersonal loneliness means we lack satisfying personal relationships.
But existential loneliness is an incompleteness at the core of our beings.
Much of our frustration arises when we try to handle the deeper problem
as if it were the more superficial psychological twin it pretends to be.

    And once we fully notice our fundamental depression, disharmony, anxiety,
we redirect our energy toward evading, denying, ignoring, or covering it up.

50. If I have noticed my Existential Predicament,
am I still hiding from that bitter truth,
evading it, denying it, trying not to notice it? Choose one:
I have no awareness of any so-called "Existential Malaise"—4 points
yes—3 points      somewhat—2 points      no—0 points

51. Do I expect to find a situational cause and a corresponding cure
for all my anxiety, guilt, depression, loneliness, etc.?
yes—1 point      no—0 points

18  BECOMING MORE AUTHENTIC: THE POSITIVE SIDE OF EXISTENTIALISM by JAMES PARK

If you would like to read the rest of this chapter
—9 more pages, exploring 14 more dimensions of centering and integrating—
go to the publisher's website: existentialbooks.com
or write to the author for more information:
James Park: e-mail: PARKx032@TC.UMN.EDU

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