Restoring Inner Purpose Amid Modern Crises

In our modern world, swaying between social pressure, a moral crisis, and spiritual emptiness, many of us face the loss of life energy and inner balance. At a time when society experiences abrupt changes and the loss of firm moral guidelines plays a decisive role, there inevitably comes a moment when a person finds themselves on the brink of losing the meaning of life.

The root of this crisis lies not only in the external pressure brought on by societal upheavals, but also in deep internal experiences, where the absence of stable moral guidelines and purpose leads to depressive states. When people fail to find their calling and fill their existence with meaning, life transforms from a consciously lived experience into a hollow sequence of days. These internal crises—caused by a distorted perception of the world and the constant search for fleeting pleasures—only worsen the soul's state and contribute to the development of mental disorders.

However, all is not lost – there is a way out. The key to overcoming these difficult periods is the restoration of lost moral foundations and the persistent search for a deep, objective purpose. Returning to higher values and engaging in profound self-knowledge not only helps regain inner peace but also fills life once again with energy and joy. When we learn to trust our inner resources and rely on higher, spiritual guidelines, our hearts fill with hope and our life path gains meaning. Thus, every new challenge becomes a catalyst for self-improvement and a source of inspiration for our continued journey.

What factors can lead to the deterioration of mental health and the loss of life’s meaning, and how can one effectively cope with it?

Based on the presented quotes, several aspects capable of deteriorating mental health and leading to a loss of life’s meaning can be highlighted, along with ways to effectively overcome these states.

Firstly, the factors include high social tension, moral crisis, and a spiritual vacuum. For example, one source states:
"Social tension in society is very high. On the other hand – a moral crisis. Many people have found themselves in a state of spiritual vacuum. There are many who, not having the faith of Christ in their hearts, set on the path of sin. And a sinful life has never given anyone inner peace, joy, or tranquility. In psychiatry, so-called 'borderline' conditions are identified, which can develop in a potentially healthy person in response to various adverse external factors. It should be noted that if a person does not have firm moral convictions, if he is not shielded from this demonic 'storm', the risk of developing mental illness increases manifold, as the facts confirm." (source: 35_172.txt, page: 924).

Secondly, the loss of life’s meaning often arises as a consequence of disbelief and the absence of established moral guidelines. One source notes:
"Another manifestation of disbelief is the loss of life’s meaning, and indeed this lies at the basis of depression: 'There is no meaning to live, life is over, I am needed by no one,' etc. A Christian always has a reason to live. This reason is found in the love for God and neighbor; he knows, as a believer does, that God will never abandon him, that with God he is not alone in facing adversity. But for the modern, less faithful person, life is frightening, and death is simply the end! Thus, to overcome sorrow and depression one can only place hope in the Lord by entrusting Him with one’s sorrows and problems and asking for His help and support. Our anxiety for the future, the present, for our children (about whom we also worry greatly) must be entrusted to God: 'Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you' (Psalm 54:23)." (source: 1697_8482.txt, page: 342).

Next, the problem of losing life’s meaning is associated with the loss of an objective purpose. As noted in one source, having an objective, rational purpose allows one to give meaning to existence:
"Otherwise he will live without meaning. Thus, the desire for death shows us that existence is valuable only when it has meaning, and it has meaning when it coincides with its calling. A called existence is a meaningful existence. Therefore, a calling forms the foundation—by embracing it, a person elevates from mere existence to the realm of true living. The loss of one’s calling is a descent to the level of pure existence and thus results in the loss of existential value." (source: 1283_6414.txt, page: 193).

Additionally, a negative attitude toward the world, its distortion, and the uncontrolled pursuit of random pleasures also contribute to deteriorating mental health. Another source describes:
"When a person begins to treat this world, which is given for cultivation and care, in a predatory way, the world seems to rise against him, and a struggle among creatures ensues. Something occurs deep within the world—a sort of irrational revolt with which we come into contact. All the manifestations of evil that we see in human life stem from a person having distorted his nature." (source: 1078_5389.txt, page: 976).

To effectively cope with the deterioration of mental health and the loss of life’s meaning, it is essential to emerge from the state of emptiness by restoring or finding one’s objective calling. Simultaneously, it is crucial to place hope in the higher values that support a person during difficult times. As one source indicates:
"Everything in humanity—every will, feeling, and thought—is driven by the hope for meaning, whether consciously or unconsciously. Therefore, every setback on this path is merely a new impetus for self-knowledge and, at the same time, for becoming aware of the meaning that we seek and by which we, unknowingly, live." (source: 517_2583.txt, page: 123).

It is also important to understand that the law or external norms can only limit negative manifestations but cannot heal the inner depths of a person:
"It must be understood that the law in no way can correct or heal a person’s inner depths. It can place evil within certain limits, it can contain it, but it cannot eradicate it. The most important aspect for a person is to emerge from the state of emptiness." (source: 1078_5389.txt, page: 979).

Thus, the deterioration of mental health and the loss of life’s meaning are influenced both by external social and cultural crises (social tension, moral crisis, spiritual vacuum) and by internal experiences (loss of objective life purpose, distortion of one’s view of the world). The effective overcoming of these states is linked to restoring firm moral guidelines, seeking an objective and rational calling, and placing hope in higher values, which channel our volitional energy toward self-knowledge and the search for the true meaning of existence.

Supporting citation(s):
"Social tension in society is very high. On the other hand – a moral crisis. Many people have found themselves in a state of spiritual vacuum. There are many who, not having the faith of Christ in their hearts, set on the path of sin. And a sinful life has never given anyone inner peace, joy, or tranquility. In psychiatry, so-called 'borderline' conditions are identified, which can develop in a potentially healthy person in response to various adverse external factors. It should be noted that if a person does not have firm moral convictions, if he is not shielded from this demonic 'storm', the risk of developing mental illness increases manifold, as the facts confirm." (source: 35_172.txt, page: 924)

"Another manifestation of disbelief is the loss of life’s meaning, and indeed this lies at the basis of depression: 'There is no meaning to live, life is over, I am needed by no one,' etc. A Christian always has a reason to live. This reason is found in the love for God and neighbor; he knows, as a believer does, that God will never abandon him, that with God he is not alone in facing adversity. But for the modern, less faithful person, life is frightening, and death is simply the end! Thus, to overcome sorrow and depression one can only place hope in the Lord by entrusting Him with one’s sorrows and problems and asking for His help and support. Our anxiety for the future, the present, for our children (about whom we also worry greatly) must be entrusted to God: 'Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you' (Psalm 54:23)." (source: 1697_8482.txt, page: 342)

"Otherwise he will live without meaning. Thus, the desire for death shows us that existence is valuable only when it has meaning, and it has meaning when it coincides with its calling. A called existence is a meaningful existence. Therefore, a calling forms the foundation—by embracing it, a person elevates from mere existence to the realm of true living. The loss of one’s calling is a descent to the level of pure existence and thus results in the loss of existential value." (source: 1283_6414.txt, page: 193)

"It must be understood that the law in no way can correct or heal a person’s inner depths. It can place evil within certain limits, it can contain it, but it cannot eradicate it. The most important aspect for a person is to emerge from the state of emptiness." (source: 1078_5389.txt, page: 979)