The Quest for Wholeness: Exploring Inner Conflict and the Expectation of Change

In the modern world, many of us feel a constant drive for something greater— a desire that conceals deep inner emotions and unfulfilled needs. At the initial stage, a sense of anxiety creeps into our hearts, accompanied by a feeling of emptiness that is sometimes not fully recognized, yet it invariably compels us to dream of change. A continuous series of failures and the feeling of lost personal power often undermine self-esteem and leave a bitter aftertaste, pushing us to seek new opportunities for self-realization and recognition.

At the core of these expectations lies an inner conflict between a strong desire for change and the inability to satisfy basic needs, whether it be success, recognition, or self-respect. In such an emotional vacuum, a person strives to find something that can fill the void and restore a sense of a complete life. Moreover, social factors play an important role: the psychological climate of childhood, relational experiences, and the influence of one’s environment often determine how we perceive our abilities. The energy of the search—even when born from dissatisfaction with the present—can become a powerful stimulus for personal growth and the achievement of harmony.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the constant expectation for change is not so much a sign of weakness as it is an expression of the eternal human drive for balance and a life filled with meaning. It is precisely in this state, when inner forces seek a foundation for transformation, that the potential to elevate us to a new level of self-understanding and success is embedded.

What psychological mechanisms can explain a person’s constant expectation for something significant in life?

A person might constantly expect something significant because they accumulate not only unfulfilled needs but also a deep sense of anxiety, emptiness, and even spiritual dissonance. The inner conflict between the desire for change and the inability to satisfy needs for success, recognition, or self-respect contributes to a persistent sense of deficiency and anticipation for something greater. This phenomenon can be explained by the following psychological mechanisms:

1. Inner anxiety and melancholy. Sometimes, a person experiences a profound sense of anxiety that is not always fully acknowledged, and in doing so, attempts to simplify or mask their state. As noted in one source, “In reality, I was overwhelmed by a far more significant inner anxiety and melancholy…” (source: 1076_5375.txt). This feeling can subconsciously drive the person to expect something significant to compensate for their inner instability.

2. Unfulfilled needs and self-esteem. A continuous series of failures can lead to disappointment in one’s abilities and a decline in self-esteem, as reflected in the statement: “Suppose a person is extremely unlucky: one failure follows another… As a result, he may develop a persistent disappointment in his abilities or depression…” (source: 595_2971.txt). The failure to meet basic needs such as recognition and self-respect creates psychological tension that the person tries to alleviate by anticipating changes that could improve the situation.

3. Emptiness and a sense of loss. When the internal state of emptiness becomes unbearable, a person seeks to fill the inner vacuum. This state may drive them to pursue something significant that can bridge the gap—something that otherwise seems impossible to overcome. One source notes: “The state of emptiness is the most unbearable for a person. Then the person throws themselves into debauchery, into self-destruction…” (source: 1078_5389.txt). Thus, expecting something significant becomes a way to combat the inner emptiness and to strive for support in life.

4. Social and emotional disappointments. The inability to secure psychological well-being and to fulfill basic needs within society is also a factor, as highlighted in the following material: “And the needs just listed are always at risk!… After all, a person’s happiness depends on the psychological climate of the environment in which they grow up, live, and work…” (source: 79_393.txt). The social context and early childhood experiences can lead a person to constantly expect something significant, as they strive to compensate for emotional shortcomings and to receive the support they long for.

Thus, the constant expectation for something significant in life can stem from a complex interplay of psychological mechanisms—from inner anxiety and feelings of emptiness to the unfulfillment of social and personal needs. Together, these mechanisms create an emotional vacuum that a person attempts to fill by anticipating changes capable of bringing a sense of wholeness to life.

Supporting citation(s):
"In reality, I was overwhelmed by a far more significant inner anxiety and melancholy… And yet I dared neither speak to myself nor had the necessary words to express the possibility of another, equally rational, worldview." (source: 1076_5375.txt)

"Suppose a person is extremely unlucky: one failure follows another. This means that his need for success, recognition, or perhaps self-respect is not being met… These responses reflect a kind of personal experience—a person’s attitude toward himself and his conclusions about himself." (source: 595_2971.txt)

"The state of emptiness is the most unbearable for a person. Then the person throws themselves into debauchery, into self-destruction… But in both cases, renunciation of God leads to the accumulation of evil in their soul." (source: 1078_5389.txt)

"And the needs just listed are always at risk!… Thus, any need from our list may go unmet, which—as we have already said—leads to suffering, and possibly to 'destructive' emotions." (source: 79_393.txt)