On existential sadness

This chapter examines existential sadness as a pervasive human experience distinct from clinical depression, emphasizing its roots in consciousness, meaning-making, and the complexities of life. It argues that sadness often emerges from awareness of mortality, injustice, impermanence, and unfulfilled desires, positioning it as an existential rather than purely biological or psychological issue. For existential wellness coaches, the task is not to pathologize clients’ despair but to recognize sorrow as part of the human condition and help clients reframe it as a signal for purposeful living. Three existential self-help strategies are proposed as follows: embracing life’s complexity, accepting mistakes and uncertainties, and actively choosing life purposes. Through a vignette, the chapter illustrates how reframing sadness as existential can foster resilience, creativity, and engagement with meaningful activities. Additionally, it critiques the cultural obsession with “mood” as a misleading construct, advocating instead for intentional living and acceptance of neutral states. Ultimately, the chapter positions existential sadness as both inevitable and potentially transformative, urging coaches to guide clients toward values-based meaning-making rather than symptom reduction.