7 Quotes That Instantly Shift Your Perspective - from Existentialist Søren Kierkegaard
Existentialism offers practical tools for improving your mental health. Søren Kierkegaard’s work can guide you toward purpose, clarity, and emotional resilience. His quotes remind you to take ownership of your life, especially if you are a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) or navigating trauma recovery.
These seven quotes will help you reduce anxiety, manage boredom, and live your best life now.
1. Life Has No Limitations Except the Ones You Make
Existentialism teaches that you are responsible for creating purpose in your life. Kierkegaard believed that meaning doesn’t fall from the sky. You have to build it yourself.
When you believe you can’t, you limit your own potential.
Purpose gives direction during difficult times.
Believing you have no limits keeps you open to new possibilities.
Ask yourself: What limitation are you holding on to right now? Can you let it go?
2. Once You Label Me, You Negate Me
Labels can block growth. Kierkegaard warned against being defined by rigid identities. Many people cling to mental health diagnoses or labels like “anxious” or “depressed” as permanent descriptions.
Labels can offer understanding, but they are not your entire identity.
People grow and change over time. No label defines you forever.
Highly Sensitive People often feel boxed in by labels that don’t fully capture who they are.
Consider whether any labels are limiting your sense of self. What would happen if you stopped using them?
3. Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom
Freedom brings choices. Choices create anxiety. Kierkegaard believed that the more freedom you have, the more responsibility you carry. This can feel overwhelming.
Modern life gives you more freedom than ever before.
Without clear purpose, freedom often leads to overthinking and anxiety.
Anxiety can be a sign you need more direction and structure.
If you’re feeling anxious, ask yourself: What specific purpose can guide me right now?
4. To Dare Is to Lose One’s Footing Momentarily. Not to Dare Is to Lose Oneself.
Existentialism calls you to embrace risk. Kierkegaard believed that daring to take a step into the unknown is essential for personal growth.
Taking risks can feel uncomfortable, but they help you grow.
Avoiding risks may keep you stuck in depression or anxiety.
HSPs often fear stepping out of their comfort zone, but this is where growth happens.
What is one small risk you can take today to move closer to your purpose?
5. Boredom Is the Root of All Evil. The Despairing Refusal to Be Oneself.
Boredom can be dangerous for your mental health. Kierkegaard described boredom as the refusal to live fully and take responsibility for your life.
Boredom often triggers negative behaviors, including addiction and depression.
Engaging with purpose makes boredom less likely.
Highly Sensitive People may experience boredom when they disconnect from their creativity and curiosity.
When was the last time you felt bored? What purpose-driven activity can you choose instead?
6. Life Is Not a Problem to Be Solved, But a Reality to Be Experienced
Trying to fix life as if it’s a problem can create more anxiety. Kierkegaard encouraged people to focus on experiencing life rather than controlling it.
Life will always have ups and downs.
Living with purpose means embracing the full experience, not just the easy parts.
HSPs often feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges. Shifting from problem-solving to experiencing can bring relief.
Ask yourself: Are you trying to fix life, or are you willing to experience it fully?
7. Whoever Has Learned to Be Anxious in the Right Way Has Learned the Ultimate
Anxiety serves a purpose. Kierkegaard believed that the goal is not to eliminate anxiety but to understand and manage it properly.
Anxiety helps you stay alert and responsive in real situations.
Chronic anxiety often comes from overthinking, not present danger.
Learning to direct anxiety in the right way reduces overwhelm.
How can you practice using anxiety to stay aware, without letting it control you?
Søren Kierkegaard’s existentialism offers simple but powerful ideas for improving mental health. These seven quotes remind you to take responsibility for your life, find purpose, and manage anxiety and boredom in healthier ways.
You have the freedom to live your best life now.
Episode Tags
- ADD 1
- Abuse 14
- Alcohol 3
- Anger 9
- Bullying 5
- Childhood 37
- Codependency 7
- Covid 4
- Crystal Catalina 4
- Depression 15
- Detachment 2
- Disassociation 4
- Emotions 73
- Existentialism 2
- Faith 1
- Family 25
- Fatigue 4
- Focus 3
- Gratitude 11
- Grief 10
- Guilt 2
- Healers 7
- Healing 51
- High Sensation 4
- Hope 1
- Hypervigilance 7
- Introverts 6
- Lonliness 7
- Love 3
- Manifesting 5
- Manipulation 19
- Men 1
- Mindfulness 38
- Money 10
- Music 3
- Nutrition 2
- Overthinking 8
- PTSD 11
- Parenting 12
- People Pleasing 7
- Perfectionism 6
- Pets 4
- Relationships 12
- Resiliency 12
- Sadness 1
- Self Esteem 16
- Self Love 11
- Self Respect 1
- Self-Care 24
- Sex 1
Episode Tags
- ADD 1
- Abuse 14
- Alcohol 3
- Anger 9
- Bullying 5
- Childhood 37
- Codependency 7
- Covid 4
- Crystal Catalina 4
- Depression 15
- Detachment 2
- Disassociation 4
- Emotions 73
- Existentialism 2
- Faith 1
- Family 25
- Fatigue 4
- Focus 3
- Gratitude 11
- Grief 10
- Guilt 2
- Healers 7
- Healing 51
- High Sensation 4
- Hope 1
- Hypervigilance 7
- Introverts 6
- Lonliness 7
- Love 3
- Manifesting 5
- Manipulation 19
- Men 1
- Mindfulness 38
- Money 10
- Music 3
- Nutrition 2
- Overthinking 8
- PTSD 11
- Parenting 12
- People Pleasing 7
- Perfectionism 6
- Pets 4
- Relationships 12
- Resiliency 12
- Sadness 1
- Self Esteem 16
- Self Love 11
- Self Respect 1
- Self-Care 24
- Sex 1
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